Free Movement for Everybody?
The Eastern European press in 2006 clearly revealed the dissatisfaction with the limitations on the job market. The decision of the British and Irish governments to introduce fully new restrictions for Romania and Bulgaria were viewed with scepticism in these countries.
United Kingdom
The Guardian - United Kingdom | Wednesday, 6. December 2006
"For the first time since the second world war a trade union branch consisting entirely of migrant workers has been formed in Britain", notes the ... » more
"For the first time since the second world war a trade union branch consisting entirely of migrant workers has been formed in Britain", notes the journalist Duncan Campbell concerning the 200.000 registered Poles in Britain. "The creation of Polish branches in Southampton and Glasgow, with others to be launched across the country in the next few weeks, could have a profound and revitalising effect on the union movement in Britain and help to break down the barriers between the new arrivals and those who have voiced suspicions that they are being used mainly to undercut the existing workforce. ... It is not hard to see why some Polish workers might be examining the new Polish-language sections of union websites as they compare their payslips to those of British colleagues. Once the exhilaration of earning five times the average wage in Poland has abated, many of them realise that the cost of living here eats up most of their pay packet."
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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » United Kingdom, » Poland
The Times - United Kingdom | Wednesday, 23. August 2006
"In every respect bar one the statistics released yesterday about the Workers Registration Scheme for those seeking employment from the eight ex-Communist nations that joined ... » more
"In every respect bar one the statistics released yesterday about the Workers Registration Scheme for those seeking employment from the eight ex-Communist nations that joined the EU in 2004 demonstrate a success story. The exception is that the numbers are far, far higher than the Home Office forecast before this programme started," notes an editorial. Contrary to official estimates of 5,000 to 13,000 new arrivals per year, "the actual final tally of applications accepted ... was 427,000, a figure that is almost certainly an underestimation, as it excludes the self-employed — such as electricians, plumbers and the building trade. There will be some who argue that the size of this total is itself damning. That is mistaken. All this activity has spurred economic growth and produced tax receipts that otherwise would not have been forthcoming. ... In short, immigration is working."
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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » United Kingdom
Sweden
Dagens Nyheter - Sweden | Wednesday, 10. January 2007
The European Court of Justice should clarify whether unions may force a company to adhere to Swedish wage agreements for workers from other EU countries by using aggressive means. The background is a case from Vaxholm, near Stockholm, in which unionists blocked the work of a Lithuanian firm that had hired its Lithuanian workers at a lower rate. The daily paper criticized the Swedish government's decision to support the unions: » more
The European Court of Justice should clarify whether unions may force a company to adhere to Swedish wage agreements for workers from other EU countries by using aggressive means. The background is a case from Vaxholm, near Stockholm, in which unionists blocked the work of a Lithuanian firm that had hired its Lithuanian workers at a lower rate. The daily paper criticized the Swedish government's decision to support the unions: "It is worth considering in general how the law can be adjusted to an open EU with 27 member countries without falling into the trap of senseless patriotic phrases about defending the 'Swedish model.' In the new Europe, it is less constructive to demand that others adjust, without being prepared to change oneself.... In the EU, Sweden has the reputation of being a result-oriented member, ready to cooperate. The fact that Reinfeldt's government lacks the political courage to continue with this tradition is a crushing indictment."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Latvia, » Sweden, » Europe
Claims for free movement
Sme - Slovakia | Thursday, 26. October 2006
Maglena Kuneva, the chief negotiator for Bulgaria's accession to the EU and future European commissioner for her country, expresses her disappointment that most of the old EU countries plan to restrict Bulgarian workers' access to their labour markets. In an interview with Stefan Hudec she says: » more
Maglena Kuneva, the chief negotiator for Bulgaria's accession to the EU and future European commissioner for her country, expresses her disappointment that most of the old EU countries plan to restrict Bulgarian workers' access to their labour markets. In an interview with Stefan Hudec she says: "Freedom of movement is one of the EU's basic principles. On the one hand we want to boost our competitiveness and on the other we're closing the doors on each other. The generosity of the British, Irish and Swedish in opening their markets to the 10 states that joined in 2004 was one of the main arguments I used to promote EU membership in Bulgaria. I expected Bulgaria to receive the same treatment. Bulgaria doesn't pose a threat to anyone."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Migration, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Maglena Kuneva
Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic | Wednesday, 4. October 2006
Radek Honzak notes that the new EU member states of central and eastern Europe have recently been increasingly voicing their disapproval of EU decisions with ... » more
Radek Honzak notes that the new EU member states of central and eastern Europe have recently been increasingly voicing their disapproval of EU decisions with one voice. "There are several reasons for their dissatisfaction. Frequently voiced complaints are the delayed access to the Schengen Agreement, the EU's failure to step up pressure on the US to exempt them from visa obligations, the continued restrictions on free movement of their workers and the unequal conditions for the introduction of the euro. … At least as far as the Schengen Agreement is concerned, it seems their demands may now bear fruit. Apparently the older EU states are now willing to support the idea of simply extending the current Schengen Information System to cover the new member states rather than waiting for the new version of the data system to be available. This would mean that restrictions on freedom of movement within the EU for citizens of the new member states would come to an end in October 2007, as planned. And Western Europe would no longer be suspected of deliberately trying to delay the extension of the Schengen Agreement."
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Central Europe
All available articles from » Radek Honzak
Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 26. September 2006
The Czech government has not yet reached a final decision, but it seems highly likely that the Czech Republic will open its labour market to ... » more
The Czech government has not yet reached a final decision, but it seems highly likely that the Czech Republic will open its labour market to Bulgarians and Romanians on January 1, 2007. Vladimir Spidla, the Czech European Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Equal Opportunities, welcomes the move in an interview printed by the paper. "Restricting free movement of workers is always a serious measure and should only be employed when absolutely necessary. Moreover, the fact is that the sooner we lift restrictions the better it will be for all European countries and the European economy as a whole." Asked whether the much-quoted "weariness of enlargement" could also be felt in Brussels he replied, "I wouldn't go as far as to say that a fear of expansion is spreading all over Europe. Nonetheless, Romania and Bulgaria's accession will clearly mark the end of a chapter in the history of EU enlargement because the Treaty of Nice excludes further expansion."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » Romania, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Vladimir Spidla
Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Monday, 25. September 2006
According to Petr Pesek, the EU's decision to allow Bulgaria and Romania to join in 2007 only if they agree to certain restrictions, which is expected to be announced tomorrow, is tantamount to telling them: » more
According to Petr Pesek, the EU's decision to allow Bulgaria and Romania to join in 2007 only if they agree to certain restrictions, which is expected to be announced tomorrow, is tantamount to telling them: "Welcome, half-members!" Pesek argues that the tougher conditions serve to "restrict their membership": "They represent a dangerous devaluation of their membership status. On top of the restrictions on free movement of workers (basically a cornerstone of EU membership) which we have already had to accept, we are now facing the prospect of Romanian and Bulgarian court verdicts not being recognised within the EU or of receiving less subsidies, something that also undermines the principles of the EU. Of course it was a mistake to set such an early date for the accession of the two countries, but if things go on like this, EU membership will be 'watered down' even further for members still to come. Might this just be a test run for Turkey's membership?"
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Petr Pesek
Delfi - Latvia | Friday, 28. April 2006
"On May 1, which the world celebrates as International Labour Day, Latvia will also celebrate the second anniversary of its becoming an almost full member ... » more
"On May 1, which the world celebrates as International Labour Day, Latvia will also celebrate the second anniversary of its becoming an almost full member of the EU," Bens Latkovskis writes. "I say 'almost' because there are still restrictions which make us a second-class member state – whether they pertain to free movement for workers or subsidies for agriculture. And although we are now a member state and it's difficult to imagine Latvia outside of the EU, the number of Eurosceptics has not diminished – a third of the country's citizens still has a negative attitude towards the EU. And these people won't change their minds, no matter how many millions or billions of euros we receive in EU funding."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Latvia
All available articles from » Bens Latkovskis
Népszabadság - Hungary | Thursday, 27. April 2006
István Szent-Iványi also criticises the fact that two years after accession to the EU there are still restrictions on freedom of movement for Eastern European ... » more
István Szent-Iványi also criticises the fact that two years after accession to the EU there are still restrictions on freedom of movement for Eastern European workers. "The flow of workers between the old and new member states simply isn't strong enough to have a significant impact on the European labour market." Szent-Ivanyi calls for the transition period to be lifted with a view to increasing the confidence of citizens of the new EU member states. "The transition period is unjustified and pointless. Getting rid of it would convey an important symbolic message."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » István Szent-Iványi
De Morgen - Belgium | Monday, 3. April 2006
In an interview with Gorik Van Holen and Janine Meijer the European employment commissioner Vladimir Spidla describes as groundless the Belgian government's arguments for maintaining ... » more
In an interview with Gorik Van Holen and Janine Meijer the European employment commissioner Vladimir Spidla describes as groundless the Belgian government's arguments for maintaining a transition period for workers from the new EU member countries. "There is talk of surplus labour, phoney freelance workers, and moonlighting. But these are things that bear no relation to the free movement of labour. It is something that has always existed that Polish workers may come to work here legally or not. ... Open borders are good for economic growth and lower unemployment. Take Great Britain for example. The workers who went there have created jobs for others. Work creates work."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Western Europe
All available articles from » Vladimir Spidla
De Standaard - Belgium | Tuesday, 21. March 2006
On the initiative of the Belgian legal expert, Roger Blanpain, 150 Belgian and foreign academics issue a plea to the Belgian government to save the "Polish plumber": » more
On the initiative of the Belgian legal expert, Roger Blanpain, 150 Belgian and foreign academics issue a plea to the Belgian government to save the "Polish plumber": "We earnestly call upon the Belgian government to open our borders from May 1 2006 to workers from the countries of Central Europe and the Eastern European member states that joined the EU on May 1, 2004. These Europeans are full-fledged citizens of the EU and they have, like all Europeans, the right to move about freely and expect the same pay and conditions [as other Europeans], in Belgium. Workers' free movement contributes to our economic and social prosperity, as shown by the examples of Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland | Wednesday, 8. February 2006
Like most other "old" EU states, Finland must now decide whether it wants to extend the deadline for the introduction of freedom of movement for workers from the "new" EU states by a further three years. Björn Sundell argues in favour of opening Finland's labour market to Eastern Europeans: » more
Like most other "old" EU states, Finland must now decide whether it wants to extend the deadline for the introduction of freedom of movement for workers from the "new" EU states by a further three years. Björn Sundell argues in favour of opening Finland's labour market to Eastern Europeans: "Of all the old EU states, only Ireland, Great Britain and Sweden decided not to impose restrictions. Now the others are thinking about whether the transition period really make sense." Today, the EU commission is due to publish its progress report. For Sundell, however, the matter is already settled: "Firstly, the influx of labourers to Western Europe doesn't appear to have been overwhelming. Secondly, the obstacles intended to prevent their entry are apparently not working because there are so many loopholes. These barriers are not effective and should therefore be abolished as of May 1."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Finland
All available articles from » Björn Sundell
euro|topics-Dossier, October 2006
Main focus of Wednesday, 25. October 2006
Up to now Great Britain and Ireland had assumed a pioneering role in free movement of workers within the EU. They were the first to ... » more
Up to now Great Britain and Ireland had assumed a pioneering role in free movement of workers within the EU. They were the first to open their labour markets to people from the new Eastern European member states in 2004. However, both Great Britain and Ireland now plan to introduce restrictive measures regarding Romania and Bulgaria, which will join the EU in 2007. And other EU countries are also considering temporary restrictive measures. Poland, which until now has profited from the free movement of labour, now wants to take on a pioneering role by being the first to open its labour market to Romanians and Bulgarians.
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » United Kingdom, » Europe, » Romania, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Brigitte Preissler
euro|topics-Dossier, February 2006
Main focus of Thursday, 9. February 2006
By 2011, all EU member states must open their labour markets to migrant workers from all EU states. The EU commission has called on them ... » more
By 2011, all EU member states must open their labour markets to migrant workers from all EU states. The EU commission has called on them to open their borders now. Since the EU's eastward expansion in 2004, only Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden have lifted restrictions on migrant workers from the new member states - with postitive results, according the to the commission. It points out that in these countries economic growth had increased while unemployment had decreased, there were lower levels of undeclared work, and tax revenues had risen. However, some EU members remain unconvinced.
More from the press review on the subject » Economy, » Europe
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