France opens its labour market

France opened its labour market to Central Eastern Europeans yesterday. The liberal Slovak newspaper Sme points out that just three years ago the spectre of the Polish plumber spread fear and terror: "It was one of the reasons the French rejected the EU constitution in their referendum. But times have changed. ... Sarkozy's new strategy is in keeping with the priority Paris is giving to its privileged relations with Central and Eastern Europe. The French are beginning to realise that opening their labour market will not automatically lead to a rise in the unemployment figures. Consequently, not only the employers but also the trade unions called for this move."

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