Ireland may close doors to Bulgarian and Romanian workers
HELENA SPONGENBERG
08.05.2006 @ 09:50 CET
The Irish government is expected to deny Bulgarian and Romanian workers free access to its labour market if the countries join the European Union next year, a move in stark contrast to its current approach to workers from central and eastern Europe.
The Irish cabinet is likely to insist on work-permit requirements for the new EU members due to worries over the international economy and misplacement of local workers by east European labourers, reports the Sunday Times.
Sofia and Bucharest await this year's debate between the 25 EU member states on whether they will open their doors to Romanian and Bulgarian workers when they join the EU (Photo: European Commission)
A government spokesman said it will be decided in the autumn whether labour market access will be granted to Bulgaria and Romania.
He emphasised that the decision will be based on a number of factors, such as the labour market situation and the position taken by other member states.
"We'll have to eventually look at Bulgaria and Romania but I'd rather see my colleagues being a bit more advanced," the Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern said last week criticising other EU leaders for failing to open up the doors to their labour markets for the ten latest member states.
Ireland was one of only three member states – plus Sweden and the UK – which never imposed any restrictions on workers coming from ex-Soviet bloc countries.
Finland, Greece, Portugal and Spain only last week opened their borders, while Berlin and Vienna are likely to make full use of the restrictions until 2011.
Concerns about displacement of Irish workers by low-paid or exploited migrant workers has become a hot political topic in Ireland recently.
An Irish employers' body, lbec, on the other hand is anxious about international factors, such as the soaring price of oil, that could trigger an economic downturn and reduce the need for migrant labour.
Sofia and Bucharest await the debate
By the end of this year, all 25 EU member states are set to indicate what approach they will take to Bulgaria and Romania, expected to join the bloc in 2007, with a combined population of around 30 million.
So far, only Finland has announced that it will allow full access to its labour market to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania from the date of accession.
But UK interior minister Charles Clarke recently hinted Britain may also not automatically apply the same rule to Sofia and Bucharest as to the eight central and eastern European member states while commissioner Spidla has admitted he has seen "vague signs" of hesitation on the matter in some national capitals.
Some new member states have also indicated they may play tough with the two fresh newcomers.
Czech social affairs minister Zdenek Skromach recently remarked Prague may consider introducing restrictions against Romania and Bulgaria if the "old" member states keep their barriers against the eight former entrants.