Sagen er, at borgere fra tredjelande med permanent opholdstilladelse i en medlemsstat ikke har ret til fri bevægelighed i EU, og at der hidtil har været stærke begrænsninger i den fri bevægelighed inden for EU for arbejdstagere fra tredjelande.
Third-country nationals with a permanent right of residence in one Member State do not enjoy the right to freedom of movement within the European Union. Until now, the restrictions on the freedom of movement within the Union of non-Community workers have been very harsh.