FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERS : EU RELUCTANT TO OPEN JOB MARKETS TO ROMANIANS AND BULGARIANS.

The European Commission, on 21 December, felt it necessary to recall the different rules which apply to the free movement of Romaniansand Bulgarians in the 25 current member states.

NO NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION

During the first phase, member states are not under any obligation to notify the Commission of the measures to be taken, contrary to what certain information may have led us to believe.

Until 31 December 2008, access to the labour markets of the current member states will depend on national measures and policies, as well as bilateral agreements they may have with the new member states. Member states must just make the information public at national level beforeDecember 2006. They do not have to notify Brussels.

During the second phase, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011, member states are obliged to inform the Commission of any measures that they intend to take, without any need to justify them.

The third phase, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013, will be subject to stricter conditions. Member states will be required to obtain authorisation from the Commission before extending these measures for a further two years but only if "it is experiencing serious disturbances on its labour market".

WORKERS COVERED

Transitional measures are in place to cover Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who wish...