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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Reid signals curb on EU migrants | Reid signals curb on EU migrants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Work rights in the UK for Romanians and Bulgarians are likely to be restricted if they join the EU next year, Home Secretary John Reid has said. | Work rights in the UK for Romanians and Bulgarians are likely to be restricted if they join the EU next year, Home Secretary John Reid has said. |
| He told the Police Superintendents Association in Chester the implications needed to be considered "carefully" to ensure "all safeguards are in place". | |
| He emphasised the social dangers - including the risks posed by criminals - if there was unrestricted access. | |
| An estimated 600,000 East Europeans have moved to the UK since 2004. | An estimated 600,000 East Europeans have moved to the UK since 2004. |
| The majority of those are from Poland, which was one of eight former communist countries which joined the EU two and half years ago. | The majority of those are from Poland, which was one of eight former communist countries which joined the EU two and half years ago. |
| Work permits | Work permits |
| In his speech, Mr Reid told the senior police officers: "We need to manage immigration carefully.... | |
| "We need to consider carefully all of the implications of the accession of new states and ensure we have all the necessary safeguards in place to reassure the public." | "We need to consider carefully all of the implications of the accession of new states and ensure we have all the necessary safeguards in place to reassure the public." |
| The UK was one of only three existing EU members to allow unrestricted work rights to the new member states. | The UK was one of only three existing EU members to allow unrestricted work rights to the new member states. |
| There have been reports that, with pressure to bring in curbs given the much larger than expected influx since 2004, a work-permit system is being considered. | |
| Ministers say the migrants have filled gaps in the labour market and helped keep inflation down. | Ministers say the migrants have filled gaps in the labour market and helped keep inflation down. |
| Earning power | Earning power |
| The Guardian reported earlier this summer that relatively few potential migrants were expected to be able to show they have the skills needed to get the new work permits. | The Guardian reported earlier this summer that relatively few potential migrants were expected to be able to show they have the skills needed to get the new work permits. |
| The permits would be similar to the points-based scheme used for migrants from outside the EU, which stresses university education, professional qualifications and potential earning power. | The permits would be similar to the points-based scheme used for migrants from outside the EU, which stresses university education, professional qualifications and potential earning power. |
| EU leaders are due to decide within days on whether to give the go ahead for Bulgaria and Romania to join the union at the start of next year, or whether to postpone their joining date. | EU leaders are due to decide within days on whether to give the go ahead for Bulgaria and Romania to join the union at the start of next year, or whether to postpone their joining date. |