1. EPAN Troika Secretariat Meeting, 6 March Mobility of Researchers - Developing an Attractive European Research Area
Roger Hessel, Lecturer
European Training Centre for Social Affairs
and Public Health Care (EIPA-CEFASS)

2. Agenda 2. Mobility of researchers 3. First conclusions for discussion
1. Workers’ Mobility
2. Mobility of researchers
3. First conclusions for discussion

3. Social security systems Flexibilisation / mobilisation
World trends
Social security systems
Global competition
Demographic changes
Pressure
Privatisation / individualisation
Flexibilisation / mobilisation
Release ?

4. European Commission’s Annual Progress Report on the Lisbon Strategy, Jan. 2006
“There has been a wind of change moving through the corridors of Brussels.”
The progress of national policies generating more jobs has been uneven.
Priority of the Austrian - and probably also Finnish - EU Presidency: to put more workers on the labour market and keep welfare states sustainable

5. Patterns of Mobility in the EU (Source: Eurobarometer 2006)

6. Commissioner
Charlie McCreevy (IE)
Internal Market & Services

7. Cross-border Portability of labour-related Pensions Rights

8. Education and training
© MMV, Dr.T. Rentrop, EIPA
The new realistic view
Family
Family/leisure
Retire-ment
Work and career
Education and training
Age

9. Conclusions (1): Workers’ Mobility
The objective is to achieve prosperity and a high living standard by creating an adaptable and employable workforce. To this end, the framework for geographic and occupational mobility must be improved.
Life-long, job-focused training and development of skills are essential to the mobility of workers.
EU Foundation in Dublin: “Highly educated EU citizens are twice as mobile as lower educated citizens. (..) The real challenge would be to increase mobility levels for the low or medium skilled.”
Preliminary remark:
we are a small group --> Ask questions!
Pension reform debate = likely to heat up in climate of uncertainty Lack of trust
For sure: an overall trend towards privatisation
People: scared to loose their pensions
Politicians: scared to loose elections
Trend towards pension privatisation
Agenda (see below)

10. Conclusions (2): Researchers’ mobility
Report of independent expert group “Creating an Innovative Europe” proposes to increase structural mobility, i.e. to create new structures regarding people financial mobility: a gab between political rhetoric and budgetary priorities mobility in organisations: to allow linkages between researcher teams and technology platforms
Preliminary remark:
we are a small group --> Ask Questions!
Pension reform debate = likely to heat up in y ahead climate of uncertainty Lack of trust
For sure a all over trend towards privatisation
People: scared to loose their pensions
Politicians: scared to loose election
Trend towards pens privatisation
Agenda (see below)

11. Conclusions (3): Researchers’ mobility
If we want to attract and retain top researchers, we will have to offer them good working conditions, good salaries and a good social and cultural infrastructure (“welcoming attitude”).
The privatisation of universities and research institutes might lead to different pension schemes for researchers. The principle of equal treatment for all researchers must be taken into account.
Preliminary remark:
we are a small group --> Ask Questions!
Pension reform debate = likely to heat up in y ahead climate of uncertainty Lack of trust
For sure a all over trend towards privatisation
People: scared to loose their pensions
Politicians: scared to loose election
Trend towards pens privatisation
Agenda (see below)

12. Conclusions (4): Researchers’ mobility
What are the benefits? Innovative and comparative research has no borders: need for multinational researcher teams (win-win-situation) Bigger job offer
What are the objectives? Brain drain: retention of researchers in the EU Brain gain: repatriation of researchers from US
What are the obstacles? National / regional career development rules Few career changes betw. public & priv. Sector Different social security schemes
Preliminary remark:
we are a small group --> Ask Questions!
Pension reform debate = likely to heat up in y ahead climate of uncertainty Lack of trust
For sure a all over trend towards privatisation
People: scared to loose their pensions
Politicians: scared to loose election
Trend towards pens privatisation
Agenda (see below)

13. Further useful information:
European Commission’s DG Employment & Social Affairs:
European Commission’s DG Science & Research: Researchers’ Mobility Policy:
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin):
OECD: browse by topic: “employment”