The issue of the freedom of movement is controversial but it was established to form the single European Economy. Freedom of movement creates an active economy and population that reduces bureaucratic frictions to business development. The purpose of the Freedom of Movement is to create a situation and economy like the United States where workers, businesses, and services move with the ebb and flow of the economy. Migrant workers who are EU citizens can move from one member state to another member state for employment purposes. EU citizens can bring their immediate family with them when they work in another member state.
The United Kingdom allowed EU citizens visa-free entry into its country but forced non-EU family members of EU citizens to obtain a visitor's visa. The European Court of Justice has recently issued a decision that third country nationals who are residing in the European uk Union based on a family visa can enter the United Kingdom without a visa. The ruling is consistent with a directive that allows the freedom of movement among its citizens and family members. The United Kingdom allowed EU citizens entry into its country but forcing their family members to obtain visas was illegal.
The Court of Justice said that the freedom of movement directive applies to family members of EU citizens even if they are not nationals of a member state. Member states are not allowed to restrict EU citizens and their EU resident family members into each other country. The court stated that a member state can refuse or remove an entry permit if there was abuse or fraud but they cannot impose extra conditions for entry other than provided by EU law.
It is important to note that this ruling does not allow a third country nationals to move to the United Kingdom or any other EU country where they are not permanent residence. It only means that if the third country national is a legal residence in one EU country, they have the right to travel freely without visas to other member states. It has to be a short term stay. If the foreign national were to stay in another member state for more than three months, there can be restrictions placed on their stay. In those situations, the foreign national would submit evidence that they have the financial resources to support themselves.
The United Kingdom does not want to stop workers from other member states from entering their country. The UK understands that the freedom of movement of workers benefits its nation by expanding the labor pool for its growing economy. However, the UK fears that non-working foreign nationals will place undue strain on its welfare and public services. The fears have been refuted by many studies that a vast majority foreign nationals who enter the UK are working, paying taxes, and contribute vastly more to the welfare system than is taken out.