A HIGHWAY TO SOCIAL DUMPING?

The European Commission is playing its role in calling on the twelve 'old' EU member states that have introduced restrictions on the free movement of workers to lift those measures. The fact is that it has become difficult to justify maintaining such clauses, their continued existence owing more to electoral opportunism at national level than to European policy.

If one goes back to the reasons behind these restrictions, some were concerned that workers from Eastern Europe might "destabilise certain fragile economic sectors", whilst others predicted "social dumping undermining salaries". These arguments were never backed up by any real historical, economic or social justification, but amounted to an updated version of "they'll take the food off of our plate". What a mistake. This same hackneyed argument was indeed served up on the accession of Spain and Portugal 20 years ago. At the time, instead of the tidal wave anticipated, there was a gentle flow. Seizing on the economic upturn in their country of origin, or quite simply the freedom of movement afforded them, many "immigrants" have returned home.

Maintaining restrictions is also, and above all, a highway towards...