Brussels, 12/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - Mario Monti, President of the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) presented MEPs in Strasbourg on 6 September with a new ECAS report on the free movement of workers in the EU25 entitled 'Who's afraid of EU enlargement?', written by Julianna Traser and edited by Tony Venables. The report was compiled from labour market research and factual and statistical evidence from national statistical offices, Ministries of Labour, consulates, academics and experts, and recommends that the European Parliament take the lead in pushing forward the idea that the countries which implemented transitional arrangements to limit immigration from new EU Member States phase out these measures as soon as possible. It also urges the European Parliament to organise a public hearing and for the European Commission and national governments to launch an information and communication campaign to provide objective information on immigration and labour needs. More details can be found in EUROPE 9013 about the preliminary report preceding the final version.
Speaking at the unveiling of the report in Strasbourg, British Greens/EFA MEP Jean Lambert said the report 'presents a direct challenge to the myths of free movement. Far from being overwhelmed by Polish plumbers (or any other nationality), we see workers from new Member States filing jobs in shortage areas, doing work others won't do and making a valuable economic contribution. They do this despite all the barriers put in their way and poorly understood and administered regulations that would drive most of us mad - or home! Member States should recognise that our workforce is our future and remove the barriers to free movement which treat too many citizens as a threat not an asset.'