Free Movement of Persons Question
1. Laura is an Italian student studying philosophy at a university in France. She assures
the French authorities that she has sufficient resources as well as sickness
insurance. In order to support herself, Laura does occasional work in a restaurant. In
the course of her studies she becomes very ill, and it turns out that for the last year or
so she has not paid her insurance contributions under the private hospital insurance
policy she had taken out. As a result, the French authorities refuse to offer her
treatment. They claim that, as an Italian citizen, she is not entitled to state-subsidised
healthcare, and advise her to return to Italy. Advise Laura
2. 2. Karen is a single mother of Danish nationality, who has been living for the past six
months in Berlin (Germany). While looking for a full-time job, she works on a parttime basis in a travel agency and is financially supported by her 20-year-old son,
Jens. Karen’s latest application for the post of a receptionist at the information desk
of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, which belongs to the German State, was
unsuccessful. The Museum justified the rejection on the following grounds:
1. (a) employment in the German public service is reserved to German
nationals; and
2. (b) all posts relating to German historical and cultural heritage can only be
occupied by persons with an in-depth knowledge of the German culture.
Karen lacked the relevant qualifications.
To what extent can Karen rely on the freedom of movement of workers under EU law
and can she challenge the rejection of her job application by the Pergamon
Museum?