The freedom benefited by the EU citizens of working anywhere in the Union has the consequence that people from disadvantaged regions have more opportunities to work outside their home regions. The emigration of people with high skill levels from disadvantaged to more prosperous regions reduces the potential development of regions with lower rates of development, increasing regional disparities. This phenomenon, known as “brain drain”, is a possible conflict between the objectives of European regional policy and the free movement of European citizens.

Considering this problem, the study assessed the causes and development of emigration and the possible ways to prevent competent and qualified workers to abandon the less-favoured regions, presenting a framework for recommendations on the policy that may be followed by the European Parliament on this matter.

The study consisted of three monographic analyses that focused on the three regions of Europe: Connemara (Ireland), Centro Region (Portugal) and Saxony (Germany). The most important recommendations and results focused on the areas of regional development and the labour market.