A cross-party group of 18 MEPs led by Camilla Laureti (S&D) has asked the European Commission to make the 'freedom to stay' a guiding principle of EU policy, arguing that the single market should allow citizens to thrive in their home regions rather than forcing them to move for work. In a written question submitted on 16 June 2026, the MEPs call for the concept to be integrated into the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and propose a new indicator to measure it.
The question draws on the Letta Report, which argued that the single market must be deepened by strengthening resilience and ensuring economic activity remains rooted across all regions. The MEPs stress that Services of General Interest (SGI) are vital for sustaining local economies and supporting industrial development. They ask the Commission three concrete questions: how it plans to embed 'freedom to stay' in the next MFF; whether it will create a dedicated indicator to complement the European Semester; and what follow-up actions it intends to take on Letta's proposal for an action plan on high-quality SGIs.
The initiative reflects a push to link single-market deepening with territorial cohesion and social resilience. By asking for measurable outcomes, the MEPs signal they want the concept to move beyond rhetoric into policy benchmarks. The Commission is expected to reply within six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it is willing to adopt 'freedom to stay' as a formal objective, which could influence future cohesion and industrial policy.