Germany keeps its door closed for Eastern Europeans

In line with a resolution adopted by its government Germany will keep its labour market closed until 2011 for the Central and Eastern European states that joined the EU five years ago. The liberal daily Sme criticises the decision: "A section of Germany's electorate will no doubt be pleased that their job market remains protected and will honour this at the [parliamentary] elections. … But EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimír Špidla is not the only one who considers the fears of a flood of workers exaggerated. And even if German politicians avoid the subject - their country has long since lost its great appeal for migrant workers. The numbers of immigrants from Turkey, Italy and Russia have been dwindling for some time. By 2020 it is estimated that the percentage of the population that is of productive age will have gone down by 2.5 percent. Without immigrants that figure will be as low as six percent. Without immigrants Germany faces hard times."

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