Brexit, EEA and the Free Movement of Workers: Structural Considerations on Flexibility

The article focuses on the regulation of the free movement of workers under Agreement on the European Economic Area in the light of the considered accession of the United Kingdom to this agreement after the Brexit takes place. The participation in the European Economic Area would keep the United Kingdom part of the EU internal market including the free movement of workers. The article tries to answer the question on the degree of flexibility in the EEA Agreement which would give space for the UK to pursue its own policies on the movement of workers. The article argues that structurally the EEA Agreement gives a space for some flexibility, however, only in case of very specific circumstances.