Rethinking EU enlargement and options for accelerating access to the labour market of the Member States

By Sandra Mantu, Elizabet Kakabadze, Beyza Kartal, Tesseltje de Lange.

This working paper, prepared as part of the DignityFIRM project, examines the implications of EU enlargement with a focus on labour market access for nationals of EU candidate countries (CCs). The paper highlights structural challenges: visa and border policy alignment, high emigration from CCs (causing labour shortages at home), weak recognition of qualifications, and insufficient institutional capacity in labour market governance. Labour exploitation—both within the EU and in candidate countries—remains a concern, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and hospitality.

How to cite: Mantu S., Kakabadze E., de Lange, T. (2025). Rethinking EU enlargement and options for accelerating access to the labour market of the Member States. DignityFIRM.