Brussels, 22/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish government will, on Friday 22 July, introduce work permits for Romanian workers. Is this a breach of EU law? For the moment, there is only “rumour and speculation”, Commission spokesman David Boubtil told press, as the Commission has yet to receive any request from Spain on this issue.
It is, then, the Spanish authorities who are going to have to inform the Commission of their intentions. If the Commission receives notification, a request from the Spanish authorities, then it will conduct an investigation in line with Community law.
The spokesman noted that Spain has already liberalised its labour market and that it applies Community law on the free movement of workers in this second phase, which runs until the end of December 2011. In this context, Boubtil says: “Spain cannot, in principle, bring in a new agreement, or new transitional arrangements for Romanian workers.” In exceptional circumstances, if a member state has ceased to apply national measures and grants freedom of movement to workers, it may be that restrictions are called for if the situation runs counter to Community law or if it threatens Community law, he said. (G.B./transl.rt)