Unfair and Unjust
From European Voice (Registration required)
Plans to restrict new members’ workers denounced as unjust
Moves to curb the ability of workers from new member states to take advantage of their EU citizenship and seek jobs in another country of the Union were this week branded “unfair and unjust”. The restrictions, which come in response to fears of a huge influx of workers to the present EU states after 1 May, have been staunchly attacked by accession states’ politicians.
The European Commission announced it would check whether bans introduced by member states were in line with EU law.
Although initially several EU states pledged to open their labour market to new countries’ workers, all of them made a U-turn in recent days, following popular concerns and media pressure.
Placing restrictions on the EU wide freedom of movement for citizens of the ten new members is discriminatory, it is unjustified and it does represent a reneging of the agreements made by the existing members during the accession negotiations.
These restrictions exist because the various European governments are more concerned with pandering to populism than with embracing the economic opportunities that enlargement presents.
Saturday 28 Feb 2004 | Paul | The Pit
