Austrian and German labour barriers attacked

The Czech EU presidency has attacked plans by Germany and Austria not to open up their labour markets to citizens from new member states from Central and Eastern Europe as unjustified. The two countries have said they want to continue existing barriers which require would be workers from eight countries including the Czech Republic to apply for work permits until 2011. In a statement, the presidency pointed out that all available data show that workers from these countries pose no threat to the stability of the two countries labour markets, do not push down local wages or endanger social cohesion. The plans by the two countries, the last to retain work barriers after Belgium and Denmark announced they would lift theirs, should be studied by the European Commission.

Author: Chris Johnstone