AN INQUIRY INTO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID 19 TO THE FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERS IN THE EU: HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Freedom of movement for workers is one of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union. It is also considered the main driver of the European Union's economy and the Internal Market. Faced with the global pandemic crisis, many European countries, including EU member states, have taken measures to reduce regular entry on their state territories to prevent the spread of the disease COVID 19. These measures have left consequences and still impact the freedom of movement for workers and the functioning of the European Union's Internal market. As a part of the Internal Market, the healthcare sector, as a sector that is most affected by the pandemic crisis, was necessary to mobilize healthcare workers on the one hand and restrict movement on the other. This paper aims to present how the European Union and its institution responded to the free movement for workers crisis in terms of EU law and acquis communautaire. What are the expected socio- economic consequences, especially in the healthcare sector, and what is the assessment for the recovery in general?