Abstract
The chapter is addressing the institute of Public interest within the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of movement by EU citizens. In EU internal migration law, Public interest is clearly linked to the notions of threats to Public policy, Public security and Public health or to the preservation of Public finance.
It is understood as an exception that Member States can use to restrict the exercise of freedom of movement. Public interest is therefore a powerful institute as it is able, temporarily and under certain conditions, to prevail over a fundamental right.
Unfortunately, both at the European and national level, Public interest remains general, elusive and variable. The absence of a clear European delimitation leads consequently to a diversity of national understandings and gives to this concept a dual dimension (European and national).
The chapter is first examining the link between Public interest and the EU fundamental right of freedom of movement of EU citizens. It delimitates its quotations in EU primary and secondary law and recalls its dual dimension.
Secondly, it deals with the national dimension of the Public interest exception by quoting typical instances used by EU Member States in practise. Finally, it addresses the question of the weight of the Public interest exception by referring to its limit as an exception and by examining the legal consequences of its disregard by EU citizens on the move.