08/02/2006 3:19:19 pm
The EU Commission: Free Movement for Labour Positive. Today, the EU Commission published a report that evaluates the effects of the previous EU enlargement on labour mobility. It states clearly that:

"The migration flows following the enlargement have had positive effects on the economies of the EU15 member states ... (newcomers) positively contribute to the overall labour market performance, to sustained economic growth and to better public finances."

The EU Commissioner for Social Policy, Vladimir Spidla, now urges the countries that enacted barriers for the free movement for labour to dismantle them. Ireland, Britain and Sweden had none and there have been no negative effects. In the Swedish case, only 3500 residence permits were issued in 2004, but in Ireland (half the size), the figure was 150 000.

The EU as a whole benefits from the free movement for labour. Ireland is a good example of that - vast immigration, rising employment and hardly any unemployment. Sweden is a less good example, since hardly any people came here, unfortunately. And there are few new jobs as well.

The politicians who warned for enlargement and talked of "social tourism" should - in light of these new facts in particular - ask the citizens of the new members states to forgive them for their views and words.

Read more here - >