UK Govt softens tone towards Romania, Bulgaria
hotnews.com / December 8, 2006

The British government accepted the idea that the restrictions imposed to Romanian and Bulgarian workers are too rough and take into account the possibility to ease the conditions after 12 months.
After an year, Romanian and Bulgarian workers with low qualifications will be able to get jobs in food processing, but with a 20,000 persons limit per year, The Independent informs.

An increasing number of politicians challenge the governmental decision to shut the labor market for Romanians and Bulgarians, while the authorities refuse to make an official estimation on the amount of immigrants from the two countries.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne was presented last week in the Parliament with a letter from Richard Thomas, the former UK ambassador to Bulgaria, who accused Byrne of a “hateful behavior” in treating Romania’s and Bulgaria’s citizens as second-rank Europeans. Thomas said he’s so ashamed he won’t be able to show his face again in Bulgaria.

Wayne David, representing the Labor Party, said the letter is an accuse against the governmental policies and considers that the current attitude may bring “irreparable damages” in the relationship between UK and the two countries.

France Opens 52 Labour Market Sectors for Bulgaria, Romania
evportal.bg/ December 1, 2006

Bulgarians and Romanians will be allowed to work in several sectors on France’s labour market after January 1, 2007, said Minister Delegate for European Affairs Catherine Colonna.

She said France will open its labour market for the two countries right after they join the European Union and not after two years as it was the country’s policy for the ten member states that joined in 2004.

Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers will be allowed in a total of 52 labour sectors such as agriculture, tourism and construction, Colonna added.