Dear friends, the topic and activity descriptions for "Borderless Europe - Mobility of European Citizens", our Yearplan Project for 2000, have finally been prepared by Kerstin Klopp and me, and are available from me, [log in to unmask] as zipped file attachment (less than 100k). They cover mobility in higher education, recognition of diplomas, mobility of labour, social security entitlements, visa requirements, and taxation and bureaucracy. And they describe a lot of different activities you can organise in the framework of this AEGEE-Europe Yearplan Project. If you think that this is a good project, and that you and/or your antenna should take part in it, please get in touch with me, and you will receive this further information as mentioned above. For all of you who have not been present at the Agoras in Barcelona or Poznan, I send below a general description of the project. If you want to know more, do get in touch with me or Kerstin! Thanks for your interest! Yours, Markus. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Borderless Europe ? Mobility of European Citizens Year Plan 2000 Project approved by AEGEE-Europe's Spring Agora 1999 in Barcelona Project Description by Markus Schönherr, [log in to unmask], and Kerstin Klopp, [log in to unmask] Mobility of Europeans is a very fashionable topic nowadays. Inside the EU it is encouraged, and into the EU it is discouraged. But who knows what it really is all about? Who knows how well legislation and administrations have been adapted to the requirements of a better mobility of Europeans? What happens if you really dare to leave your native country and work, study or retire somewhere else in Europe? And what are your opportunities, if you are not an EU citizen, or if you are an EU citizen, but want to go to a non-EU state? What will you face, and what should be improved? The following should give you as an AEGEE antenna or other AEGEE body a overview about important subjects related to mobility in Europe and information sources where to get further information on the topic mentioned. It is difficult to cover this subject entirely as mobility may be of importance for something different for each of us depending on our interests, nationality and experience and the following briefs should therefore only serve as a start for hopefully fruitful discussions and great events about a topic that will concern us all more than ever in the next millenium. Topics: The following topics are suggestions. Some are more important, others are rather marginal. Mobility in Higher Education The Socrates Programme wants to encourage students in the EU states and some candidate countries to study in another country, in order to experience European diversity first hand. But why are there still so many practical and administrative problems? Why does all this excessive bureaucracy persist? And what papers and documents do I really have to present, and which forms to fill in, what to apply for, and why? Recognition of Diplomas and Work Experience Is it really true that my diploma will be recognised in all EU countries? What if I am from a non-EU state? How do I have to prove my language skills? What if I want to work in a state that restricts access to my type of profession? Mobility of Labour When the Euro was introduced, many economists claimed that it would fail, unless there were a greater mobility of labour in the Euro zone. Why are there still so many obstacles to a larger percentage of the population working in another EU country? In fact, the mobility of labour across the EU borders is being prevented by many regulations and visa regimes. What exactly are my opportunities to work in another European country? What are the requirements, and what are my rights? Transfer of Social Security Benefits and Entitlements What happens to my pension, if I go to work abroad, or if I worked in several European countries during my life? What standard of health care and health insurance will I be able to maintain if I work abroad? How can I transfer entitlements I earned while working in one country, when I go to another country? Visa Requirements Visas continue to be a nuisance in East-West relations. Procedures are tedious, bureaucratic and expensive. Why do we need visas, and do we need them at all? What can we do in order to relieve the burden? How do consulates and embassies work? What can I do in order to get my visas more easily? Whom should I complain to, if I feel treated in the wrong way? Taxation and Bureaucracy What happens to my tax bill if I work in one country, and my spouse in a second one? And perhaps we all live in a third country? And even if it is not that complicated, what taxes do I have to pay if I move to another country? Do I have to pay extra taxes or fees for my car if I move to another country? How do I fill in forms, or register my car abroad, if I don't understand the language of the bureaucrats in my new country? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Markus Schonherr, East-West WG of AEGEE-Europe Ingling 17, A-4784 Schardenberg, Phone ++43-7713-4016 (fax on request) [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] New: mobile ++43-699-1046-6751 (also SMS!) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ join the Visa Freedom Fighters of AEGEE's East-West Working Group: subscribe to visa-l on [log in to unmask] send your visa experience to [log in to unmask] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================================================= MISC-REG-L is hosted on aegeeserv courtesy of AEGEE-Karlsruhe. 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