Belgium Mulls Lifting Labor Market Restrictions for Bulgaria

Currently, Bulgarians have full labor rights in Denmark, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic. File photo

Romanian and Bulgarian workers should be allowed in Belgium as of January 1 next year, after Flanders, the last Belgian region opposing the move, lifts its veto.

The news was reported Monday by Euractiv and the Bulgarian news agency BGNES.

Representatives of the Socialists and the Democrats in Brussels led 2-year-long negotiations with Flemish minister Philippe Muyters, who opposed the move. According to the publication, they are confident that the last hurdle has been lifted.

Belgium is among the last 10 EU Member States to restrict access of Bulgarian and Romanian workers to their labor markets. The others are Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta, France, Great Britain and Ireland.

Muyters spokesperson has told Euractiv that the decision will be made in the upcoming three days, but it remains unclear if it will be negative or positive for the newest EU members.

The Belgian state would be better off financially by lifting restrictions to Romanian and Bulgarian workers, according to EU sources, as it would allow a more efficient monitoring of their employment benefits, Euractiv writes.

According to the publication:

"Over the years, Romanians have developed 'tricks' to legally qualify for Belgian state benefits. These include filing a newly established company for bankruptcy or hiring and then immediately firing their spouses from a firm they had recently set up in Belgium.

One Belgian official close to the negotiation appeared more sceptical, however, saying: "Our laws are not adapted to your mentality."

The restrictive regime for Bulgarians and Romanians to access labor markets in the EU ends on January 1, 2012 and can be extended no later than January 1, 2014.

The European Commission recently reminded that the extension can be done only after a unanimous decision of local governments and the submission with the Commission of clear grounds, showing that such decision stems from proven negative influence on the respective labor market in the hiring of Bulgarian and Romanians.

The EC clarification came on the heels of the announcement of the British Foreign Affairs Ministry it will extend the restrictions until the end of 2013 as did the Netherlands. In April, Switzerland extended the restrictions for 2012. Iceland is planning to open their labor market for Bulgarians and Romanians in 2012. Both countries are members of the free European economic zone.

Currently, Bulgarians have full labor rights in Denmark, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic

The full text of the Euractiv article read HERE.

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