THE JEAN MONNET PROGRAM

AbstractThe present enlargement process of the European Union not only creates hopes butalso fears. Concerns about the stability of labor markets lead to the question whether therights of workers from newly admitted countries could and should be restricted. This isthe starting point of the essay which summarizes the transition regulations used in thecontext of prior enlargements of the European Community and the European Union. Itinvestigates in detail the normative framework for these regulations, taking into accountthe reforms resulting from the Treaty of Amsterdam. Is it really true that amendments tothe Treaties are not restricted in any way? Or do transition regulations need justificationdepending on how much they interfere with fundamental principles of the EuropeanUnion?