UK welcomes Central European workers

The UK has chosen to open its doors to workers from eight Central European countries on the first day they join the European Union rather than waiting for two to seven years before granting them full rights.

Citizens of the new EU Member States will gain the same full rights to work in the UK as existing EU citizens from the date of their planned accession on 1 May 2004. The new members will be the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia. Malta and Cyprus will also join the EU on that day.

Under the terms of the Accession Treaty, citizens of the new EU Member States automatically have full free movement rights for all purposes other than work. It is then up to the existing Member States to decide whether they extend working rights from the date of accession or apply restrictions during a transition period of between two and seven years on the movement of workers from the new Central European Member States.

As well as the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Greece have already stated their intention to open their labour markets from accession. The other existing EU countries have not clarified their positions yet, although it is believed that the pressure for a 'phased' introduction of full employment rights has come from the countries geographically closest to the new Central European member states who feared a sudden and possibly uncontrollable influx of workers as soon as accession occurred.

Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw said: "This decision is in the UK's interest. It will attract workers we need in key sectors and is part of our managed migration agenda. It will ensure they can work here without restrictions and not be a burden on the public purse.

"It makes sense financially, as we can focus resources on the real immigration problems, rather than trying to stop EU citizens enjoying normal EU rights. And it makes sense for UK citizens. Already thousands work in the future Member States under work permit systems. They and others will have full rights to work in the new Member States, free of controls.

"This is the right thing to do. The citizens of the new Member States should enjoy the same rights as British, French, German and other citizens within the EU, from the start of accession."

The Government confirmed that the decision to grant the full rights to work in the UK was taken after careful analysis of successive independent studies which show that there is unlikely to be a large influx of workers to the UK after accession. They also cite the experience of the Spanish and Portuguese accession when there were no major influxes.

Extending working rights in this way will require primary legislation. This legislation will include provisions to reintroduce restrictions within the permitted transitional time frame. Full worker rights mean that there are no restrictions on citizens of the EU who want to seek work in other EU countries. Unlike other visa schemes relating to non-EU countries, there is no need to demonstrate a skill shortage or have an existing job or position under offer.

Mr Straw said: "There will be safeguards. These will allow us to reintroduce restrictions in the event of an unexpected threat to a region or sector in the labour markets."

It is expected that the negotiations with the 10 candidate countries will conclude in Copenhagen before the end of the year and they will become members of the EU in 2004.