Acceso usuarios
Henrik Skovgaard-Petersen
Student mobility within the European Union is as important for the individual student as it is for the European economy and the attempt to strengthen a sense of common European identity. However, students wishing to study abroad risk encountering serious financial obstacles. The present article suggests that it may be possible to rely on free movement law in order to claim portable financial support from the home Member State to a greater extent than can be inferred from the case law specifically addressing the subject. It does so by pointing to inconsistencies with the case law on Union citizenship and by way of a comparison with cross-border provision of public healthcare services, arguing that a denial of the right to portable support can be perceived as an unjustified obstacle to free movement. Finally, the need to reconcile an increase in support for student mobility with the Member States' interest in limiting financial responsibility is discussed. While it may be possible to achieve some improvements through legislation, it is argued that developments of a judicial nature are more likely, albeit not entirely unproblematic.
