The European Commission has proclaimed, for the first time (on 30 June), 2006 “European Year of Professional Mobility”. It is an initiative aimed both at raising citizens’ awareness of the advantages of working abroad or changing jobs and at improving understanding of mobility. Working in a country different from one’s own or in a new sector of activity offers the worker the opportunity to acquire new skills and experiences, with great advantages both for the worker himself and for the employer. The most recent statistics suggest that few Europeans work abroad. Over the last 30 years, moreover, the percentage of Europeans who live in a country of the Union different from their own has remained constant, at about 1.5%. That’s why out of an annual budget of 6 million euros, some 4.3 million will be allocated to projects aimed at raising awareness about mobility; an invitation to present proposals will be launched in September.
