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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU split on new members' workers | EU split on new members' workers |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| So far only six countries have said they will open their doors to workers from Bulgaria and Romania after these countries join the EU on 1 January. | So far only six countries have said they will open their doors to workers from Bulgaria and Romania after these countries join the EU on 1 January. |
| These are Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. | These are Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. |
| Sweden is set follow suit, but the UK and Ireland - the two other states that had an open-door policy for the 2004 EU expansion - have announced curbs. | Sweden is set follow suit, but the UK and Ireland - the two other states that had an open-door policy for the 2004 EU expansion - have announced curbs. |
| Spain and Italy, which dropped their restrictions in 2006 have yet to state their position on Bulgaria and Romania. | Spain and Italy, which dropped their restrictions in 2006 have yet to state their position on Bulgaria and Romania. |
| Polish unemployment | Polish unemployment |
| Lithuania says it is "leaning towards opening its labour market" but most of the other member states are expected to announce some restrictions. | |
| WHERE THEY STAND Open doors: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia - and almost certainly SwedenRestrictions announced: UK, IrelandNo decision reported: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain The UK has taken a tougher stance this time because of the unexpected size of the influx of workers from eastern Europe, chiefly Poland, in the last two years. | WHERE THEY STAND Open doors: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia - and almost certainly SwedenRestrictions announced: UK, IrelandNo decision reported: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain The UK has taken a tougher stance this time because of the unexpected size of the influx of workers from eastern Europe, chiefly Poland, in the last two years. |
| It is estimated that about 600,000 came in search of work - between four and nine times as many as the European Commission had predicted. | It is estimated that about 600,000 came in search of work - between four and nine times as many as the European Commission had predicted. |
| Ireland has received fewer workers from Eastern Europe overall - about 200,000 - but the country's population is only four million. It is estimated that one in 10 of Ireland's workforce is now foreign. | Ireland has received fewer workers from Eastern Europe overall - about 200,000 - but the country's population is only four million. It is estimated that one in 10 of Ireland's workforce is now foreign. |
| Poland, which has objected strongly to the labour restrictions imposed by "older" EU states on its workers, said it was opening its labour market to Bulgarians and Romanians to set an example to others. | Poland, which has objected strongly to the labour restrictions imposed by "older" EU states on its workers, said it was opening its labour market to Bulgarians and Romanians to set an example to others. |
| Labour Minister Kazimierz Kuberski pointed out this step was being taken despite Poland's high unemployment rate. | Labour Minister Kazimierz Kuberski pointed out this step was being taken despite Poland's high unemployment rate. |
| Romanians abroad | Romanians abroad |
| Large numbers of Romanian workers are already living in other European countries, having enjoyed visa-free travel throughout the Schengen zone since 2001. | Large numbers of Romanian workers are already living in other European countries, having enjoyed visa-free travel throughout the Schengen zone since 2001. |
| About two million Romanians - one fifth of the workforce - and 750,000 Bulgarians are thought to be working, either legally or illegally, in other countries. | About two million Romanians - one fifth of the workforce - and 750,000 Bulgarians are thought to be working, either legally or illegally, in other countries. |
| Italy has the largest number of legally registered Romanian workers (175,000) while Greece is estimated to have a 200,000-strong Bulgarian community, counting both legal and illegal residents. | Italy has the largest number of legally registered Romanian workers (175,000) while Greece is estimated to have a 200,000-strong Bulgarian community, counting both legal and illegal residents. |
| Hungary also has a large group of Romanian workers, many of them Hungarian-speakers. | Hungary also has a large group of Romanian workers, many of them Hungarian-speakers. |
| An Italian foreign ministry spokesman told the AFP news agency his country was waiting to see what recommendations are made in Brussels before making a decision - but the European Commission says it will not be issuing any recommendations. | An Italian foreign ministry spokesman told the AFP news agency his country was waiting to see what recommendations are made in Brussels before making a decision - but the European Commission says it will not be issuing any recommendations. |
| The undecided member states can make up their mind any time before 1 January. | The undecided member states can make up their mind any time before 1 January. |