French citizens Anne and Romain went to find work in Gothenburg, Sweden. But how easy was it for them to start afresh within the European Union? EPTV investigates.

Reporter: Putting freedom of movement to the test

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16293827/m003-0249-001-en.srt

EuroparlTV is looking at the free  circulation of workers within the EU.

In the Parliament we're always  in favour of guaranteeing

the free circulation of labour,  of workers, without restriction.

We're in a crisis, so in practice  we often see, and more often than before,

very sophisticated  and complicated measures

to restrict the flow of people  from one country to another.

Between degrees,  Anne and Romain left France

but somewhere that was different  from our country and our culture.

The Swedish tax office,  immigration office, job centre...

In the month since they arrived,  the pair have been to all of them.

But so far only one document  seems tangible.

It lays out the conditions  for a residence permit.

You're either a student here  and registered at the university,

or you have enough money  in your bank account

to provide for your needs  for at least a year.

We asked for more information  at the tax office.

If you do not have a job,  you can still come to Sweden

but after six months,  if you're still unemployed,

the migration board can ask that you  show that you are actively seeking a job

and that you have a good chance  of obtaining one.

So there can be a problem if you do not  have sufficient funds for yourself

to obtain a personal identity number  if you wish to stay for more than a year.

But until you have this residence permit,  you have no Swedish personal number.

And without this national identity number,  it's hard to live a normal life in Sweden.

We can access job offers, but most say  they don't accept applications

by email or telephone. They ask you  to apply only via their website.

And then we get stuck. We can't even  apply without the personal number.

So it's hard for our French pair  to merge with the Swedes.

we have to draw out money  from our French banks.

And every time we draw out  a bit of money, costs are added.

José is Spanish and  got a short-term contract of six months.

But it's not enough  to get a personal number.

I could get a provisional one  which is something similar.

nor give you access  to things previously mentioned,

Others like Aurélien and Faïza  have been luckier.

It was difficult to get the personal number,  but I spoke to my boss

and we set up a one-year contract  which you need to get the number.

and I could get my personal number  straight away.

The French honorary consul  in Gothenburg offers the same advice.

He mentions  the well-stocked bank account.

For a year, I'm told it's about  7,000 kronor multiplied by 12.

You can't be accepted by an employer  if you don't have a personal number.

you generally need a job.  So it's a vicious circle.

Anne and Romain's parents  will probably help them financially.

It's disappointing for the young couple  who would have liked to be independent.