A New Year and Two New Members

On January 1st 2007 Romania and Bulgaria became new members of the European Union with the right to move around freely and to work within the Union. There are restrictions on working in some countries, with Ireland being the only current EU member state that will welcome workers from the new EU member states without imposing any restrictions on its labour market. Currently, the Irish government is also giving priority to Eastern Europeans for work visas/permits over other non-EU nationals. However, in order to prevent abuse of the benefits system, Ireland will be proposing changes to its social welfare code in the near future.

The UK had initially pledged to open its labour market completely to new EU nationalsbut is it is now saying that immigrants will have to 'register' and may in fact need a work permit. The main reason for this is that it is very easy to register for benefits in the UK and the system has been abused and not necessarily by migrants. The entire welfare system really needs to be overhauled and this is not something that can be done easily. Good old fashioned 'short termism' and not planning ahead has helped create the mudddle. The government is taking a 'band aid position' unlike the Irish, who seem to be thinking things through more logically.

I think it is a shame that the work market is not more open to all migrants, it gives those who can really contribute something, an open opportunity and some curtailing of welfare systems will slow down those who just want to grab benefits without contributing. In other words all should have an equal chance and human nature will naturally sort out the rest.

Seven countries are waiting  to join the European Union.  Croatia and Turkey started entry talks in 2005. Turkey could complete them in 15 years, Croatia in 5. The other Balkan countries have been told they can join the EU one day, if they meet the criteria. These include democracy, the law, a market economy and commitment to the EU's goals of political and economic union.