Brussels, 02/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - As expected, the decision by the “old” Member States of the EU15 on access of workers from the new Member States (excluding Malta and Cyprus) to their labour markets for the 2006-09 period, were sent to the European Commission before the deadline on 30 April. The new systems apply as from 1 May 2006, the date when the first implementation phase of the transitional provisions expired.
Austria and Germany decided to keep restrictions and did not introduce any flexibility for the next three years, announcing, “the bilateral agreements remain in force”. Belgium decided to maintain its transitional measures but made the procedure more flexible in some sectors for migrants (nurses, plumbers, electricians, car mechanics, builders, architects, accountants, engineers, information technology specialists). The same goes for Denmark, which will reduce its administrative procedures for companies that employ workers covered by collective agreements. Luxembourg will apply a minimum procedure for agriculture, viticulture and hotel and catering (EUROPE 9169. Greece will lift its restrictions, as will Spain, Finland and Portugal. France will lift its restrictions in a “gradual and controlled” way. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, contrary to what they announced (EUROPE 9152), the cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende, under pressure from Parliament, decided to postpone its decision on the opening up of the market to workers from Eastern Europe, till the end of the year. In the meantime the current restrictions remain in place in the Netherlands.
Italy informed the Commission that its quota system would remain in force. It has, however, increased quotas for workers from new Member States to 170,000. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, which had already opened their labour markets on 1 May 2004, did not provide any indication of a change in their governments policy. The Norwegian and Icelandic governments intend to get rid of restrictions. No information has been provided by Liechtenstein. Notifications from EFTA countries have to be sent to the EFTA Surveillance Authority.
Commissioner Vladimir Spidla informed the press that “these decisions are a major step forward to free movement of workers and allow for greater cooperation on the European labour market”. Spidla pointed out that Germany had granted 500,000 work permits since 1 May 2005, which the Commissioner regarded as roughly corresponding to the same number of workers entering Ireland and the UK over the same period. The Commissioner said that, “we cannot really say therefore that Germany is acting against free movement of workers”. He also underlined that the Commission did not want to put Member States under pressure to free up their labour markets but that his role was to have a discussion with them on free movement with the aim of a total opening up. Mr Spidla did indicate, however, that the Commission had not yet received an indication from new Member States on their intentions of developing transitional provisions for workers from Bulgaria and Romania, following accession of these two countries in 2007 or 2008.