Turning the Welfare-Migration Nexus Upside-Down: The Case of European Retirees in Spain

Abstract This chapter analyses the welfare-migration nexus by looking at relationship between intra-EU mobility and welfare restrictions in Southern Europe. Specifically, addresses provision of healthcare assistance regulated European law, exploring extent to which generally welcome non-labour-motivated inflows from Northern countries Europe may lead challenge EU citizenship as a source equal access welfare. The increasing demand for services elderly citizens has triggered unexpected forms chauvinism Spain, leading restricted public without full residency Spain. results therefore confirm that restrictionist turn regulating citizens’ not been limited South-North labour-motivated mobility, but can be easily extended However, Spain’s inertia revising reimbursement procedures treatment provided primarily migrants also indicates is deeply embedded complex system where “protection” one state interest out many.