Mobility in Times of Crisis: Social Cohesion and New Cleavages in the Europe of Free Movement

Cross border mobility has been analyzed as one of the key dimensions of European social integration that involve ‘ordinary citizens’ as movers within the common market. Mobility as an ‘integrative mechanism’ is closely related to practices of EU citizenship that allow EU citizens to travel, settle, study or work in other member states indiscriminately of their country of origin. The question is whether in the current context of crisis these integrating effects of the Europe of free movement and citizenship can still be taken for granted. The paper explores the changing patterns of mobility in Europe within the context of financial crisis and the challenges it poses to the cohesion of the European social space. The overall question to be addressed is how the Europe of free movement is transformed in relation to a new dynamic intra-EU migration and contestations of EU citizenship. Is mobility a viable strategy for vulnerable citizens affected by crisis to build resilience? Or are there impediments to mobility in terms of vulnerable populations facing increasing uncertainty and discrimination?