European Union Law: Freedom of Movement and residence: the cornerstone of EU citizenship

The free movement of people was one of the main issues for the United Kingdom and those supporting Brexit in the 2016 referendum. It continues to be significant in the subsequent negotiations between the UK and the EU27. As the Brexit negotiations continue, the topic is receiving wider coverage. It is a remarkable story of evolution and integration to which the Member States, the Court of Justice of the EU and the other EU institutions have all contributed. Over the coming years, Australia will be negotiating preferential trade agreements with the EU and the UK, when (if?) the latter leaves the former. In the following sections, the current framework for the free movement of people in the EU, development of this framework and issues for further consideration are discussed.