Brussels, 10/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - In response to Commission calls, Spain and Portugal have announced that they are not going to extend the transitional measures restricting the free movement of workers from the new Member States. At a joint press conference, Ministers Jesús Caldera of Spain and José Antonio Da Silva of Portugal said that it had been a decision based on an analysis of the specific labour market situation. The Spanish Minister announced that henceforth workers from the new Member States would enjoy the same social security rights as those from the old Member States. The Portuguese Minister called the decision “important” and “symbolic” for the continued construction of Europe and that, for Portugal, it gave a “positive signal” to the other Member States, while understanding the position of each. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden put no restrictions on access to their labour markets, and Finland has confirmed that it would soon follow suit. Thereafter, the Netherlands and Greece should follow, according to a Community source. France and Denmark are still hesitating, and Austria, Germany and Belgium have decided to extend the transition measures. Commissioner Spidla said that he was overjoyed by these moves by Member States favouring a more open labour market. Transition measures expire on 1st May but Member States may extend them after notifying the Commission of their decision to do so.