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Reid outlines new EU work curbs Reid outlines new EU work curbs
(about 1 hour later)
Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid.Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid.
The countries join the EU in January. The curbs contrast with the open door policy when another eight former communist states joined in 2004. He said the only unskilled jobs they could take initially will be in food processing and agriculture.
The countries join the EU in January. The curbs contrast with the "open door" policy when another eight former communist states joined in 2004.
At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years.At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years.
Food processing and agriculture will be the only sectors initially opened to unskilled Bulgarians and Romanians. "We will manage this process gradually and we will attempt to achieve the balance between the needs of our economy and taking opportunities where there is a shortage of skilled labour," Mr Reid said.
Bulgaria's minister for EU integration, Meglena Kuneva, said she was disappointed by the change of policy.
Only Britain, Ireland and Sweden chose to allow unrestricted access to their labour markets when the new states - the largest of which was Poland - joined the EU in 2004.
We all want to be clear that anything that is proposed is workable and effective Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett Q&A: EU enlargementWe all want to be clear that anything that is proposed is workable and effective Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett Q&A: EU enlargement
There have been reports of disagreement within Cabinet at plans to limit work permits, with the Foreign Office opposed to the curbs because of the impact they might have on Britain's relations with the new EU states. He said the policy would be reviewed, if other industries felt they would benefit from more manual workers.
But Mr Reid has won that battle. As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out.
Everyone who is a citizen of an EU country is allowed to travel and live wherever they want to within member states. Controls are to remain in place for a "transitional period" and a committee would be set up to look at how low-skilled quotas are managed, Mr Reid said in a written statement to Parliament.
Black economyBlack economy
The statement makes clear that the UK is not allowed to place any restrictions on Romanians or Bulgarians who want to be self-employed within the UK.
Mr Reid denied "bulldozing" through concerns from the Foreign Office about the impact curbs might have on Britain's relations with new EU states.
It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept Meglena KunevaBulgarian minister Leaving Bulgaria for UK? Romania to lose workers
Everyone who is a citizen of an EU country is allowed to travel and live wherever they want to within member states.
But when new members join, the EU's existing members are allowed to impose restrictions on the new EU citizens' right to work - and right to benefits - for up to seven years.But when new members join, the EU's existing members are allowed to impose restrictions on the new EU citizens' right to work - and right to benefits - for up to seven years.
Some opponents of curbs warn that Romanian and Bulgarian migrants may be forced into the black economy if they are allowed to travel and live in the UK, but not allowed to work.Some opponents of curbs warn that Romanian and Bulgarian migrants may be forced into the black economy if they are allowed to travel and live in the UK, but not allowed to work.
Bulgaria's Ms Kuneva said on BBC News 24 about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria. 'Serious concern'
She hoped they would have the same freedom as Polish workers who came to the UK when Poland joined in 2004. Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva predicted on BBC News 24 that about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria.
It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept Meglena KunevaBulgarian minister href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5377332.stm" class="">Leaving Bulgaria for UK? href="/1/hi/world/europe/5380978.stm" class="">Romania to lose workers She described the UK's policy in 2004 as "very brave and very right" adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]".
Mrs Kuneva described the UK's policy in 2004 as "very brave and very right".
"It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]", she said.
And Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said she would have expected Britain to grant the same "non-discriminatory treatment" to Romanians, that had been given to Polish workers.And Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said she would have expected Britain to grant the same "non-discriminatory treatment" to Romanians, that had been given to Polish workers.
But Sir Andrew Green, of pressure group Migrationwatch, told the BBC the UK was already taking a "huge level" of immigration - and the government's plans marked a "turning point".But Sir Andrew Green, of pressure group Migrationwatch, told the BBC the UK was already taking a "huge level" of immigration - and the government's plans marked a "turning point".
"It will be the first time the government has acknowledged the really serious concern throughout Britain about the scale of all this," he said."It will be the first time the government has acknowledged the really serious concern throughout Britain about the scale of all this," he said.
On Monday Baroness Scotland told the House of Lords the government's scheme would be "welcoming" while "safeguarding the best interests of the people of this country".
The government had also "learnt a great deal" from Polish workers, whose arrival had benefited the country, she added.