(Oct. 30th, 2009) Nearly ten years ago, the European Commission suggested the creation of a European Research Area (ERA) to facilitate the free movement of researchers, knowledge and technology across Europe. So far, international mobility in Europe still comes at high costs.
Mobile scientists face extra costs, which are not always fully compensated or which are taxed, e.g. relocation costs. They experience problems when transferring pensions and social security benefits across borders in the European Union. Some are even funded by fellowships without pension provisions and social security rights. Others contributed to several national pension schemes but cannot fulfil the minimal membership period of several years in a certain scheme to be entitled to a pension. Despite many years of hard work, the financial perspective facing mobile researchers after retirement can be dismal. Short fixed-term contracts can make it difficult to find and finance accommodation, register with the social security system or obtain a bank or credit card.
After a working stay abroad, reintegration in the home country can also be a serious difficulty. The repatriate might find the national scientific network inaccessible and qualified career advice might not be available. In a study by the European Commission, scientists reported that their international experience was not professionally recognised. Additionally, few institutions offer the spouses and partners of internationally mobile postdocs and doctoral candidates support to find a job in the same place or develop their career. In the worst case, the career of both can be damaged by a mobility period. Scientists also found that mobility made family life extremely difficult and thus felt forced to choose between a research career and a family or relationship.
The Euraxess Services for mobile researchers and the Marie Curie Fellows Association stressed the need for a pan-European pension scheme and a pan-European register of pension and social security entitlements, for better social insurance cover and better transferability of social security benefits, for more mobility-friendly regulations concerning spouses and partners and better taxation guidelines. Furthermore, mobile researchers should be better integrated into national career progression schemes.
In its communication “Better careers and more mobility: a European Partnership for Researchers”, the European Commission proposed in 2008 a voluntary commitment of the Member States to improve open recruitment, social security and pension rights, employment and working conditions, training and skills of researchers. The results of this initiative will be evaluated at the end of 2010. Free mobility of researchers, knowledge and technology in Europe shall be realised in 2020. Internationally mobile researchers in Europe had better intensify the lobbying for their professional and financial needs now, to make their working life profitable.
Read more about the situation of mobile researchers in Europe in the upcoming Lab Times issue 06/2009.
Bettina Dupont