Germany wants to offer Britain associated partnership with EU: paper

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. Norway had to agree to free movement of labour

Free movements of people and capital would be unaffected under the ‘Norway option’, but perceptions of lower market access and a lack of influence over rules may reduce investment in the medium term

Free movement of labour with the EU is a condition of EEA membership and has helped fill skills shortage in the three small EEA EFTA states. Norway’s evaluation of the agreement concluded that its economy has substantially benefitted from labour migration from the EU because it has contributed to increased efficiency. For the UK, the ‘Norway option’ would mean a continuation of the current arrangements for free movement of people. This would represent a positive for business but not for those people who argue that control over labour movements in the EU is a reason for withdrawal.

http://www.cbi.org.uk/global-future/case_study06_norway.html

Free movement of workers also applies, in general terms, to the countries in the European Economic Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

People working in some occupations may also be able to have their professional qualifications recognised abroad (see mutual recognition of professional qualifications).

EU social security coordination provides rules to protect the rights of people moving within the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=457