Brussels, 21/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Madrid has been heard. On Friday 21 December, the European Commission approved a request from the Spanish authorities made on 13 December 2012 to extend the temporary restriction on access for Romanian workers to the Spanish labour market until 31 December 2013 due to serious disturbances on its labour market (in particular an unemployment rate of 26.2%). These restrictions cannot be maintained beyond 2013 as temporary market restrictions on the free movement of Romanian and Bulgarian workers must be lifted in all member states as from 1 January 2014.
The Commission's decision is based on a specific safeguard clause in the 2005 Treaty on accession of Bulgaria and Romania. This clause allows member states that have lifted restrictions on workers from Bulgaria and Romania to subsequently re-impose them in cases of serious disturbances on their labour market, subject to the Commission's agreement.
Spain opened its labour market to Romanian and Bulgarian workers in 2009, but in August 2011 the Commission authorised Spain to temporarily restrict the free movement of Romanian workers until 31 December 2012. (OL/transl.fl)