PhD student: Dr A.P. van der Mei

Promotor: Prof B. de Witte

Duration: 1/10/2000

PhD defence: Maastricht, 28/6/2001

Abstract:

This book is about the extent in which European Community Law provides individual EU-citizins the right to have access to cross-border public benefits (social security payments, healthcare and education). Despite the fear of individual member states for "social tourism" and possible financial and organizational consequences for the public means, the rights of free movement and equal treatment for people on social security, patients and students have greatly extended over the years. Criticism on the European Court of Justice is in most cases unjust. The Court improved the legal status of European citizens without neglecting the interests of the "welfare state" members. The book substantiates that social security people should have the right to move freely, that student grants should be subject to export and that patients should have the right to visit other member states to skirt waiting lists.