RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Restrictions for Romanian Workers Abroad

2013 was the last year when EU member countries were able to keep in place temporary employment restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian workers. In 2014, seven years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU, these measures will be completely discarded. Nine EU countries limited the access of Romanians and Bulgarians to their labour markets until December the 31st. These are Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta, France, the UK, Ireland and Spain. Some westerners however fear that the lifting would trigger an inflow of Romanian and Bulgarian workers.

Restrictions for Romanian Workers Abroad
Restrictions for Romanian Workers Abroad

, 31.12.2013, 12:25

2013 was the last year when EU member countries were able to keep in place temporary employment restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian workers. In 2014, seven years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU, these measures will be completely discarded. Nine EU countries limited the access of Romanians and Bulgarians to their labour markets until December the 31st. These are Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta, France, the UK, Ireland and Spain. Some westerners however fear that the lifting would trigger an inflow of Romanian and Bulgarian workers.



According to the daily Romania Libera, there is no telling whether such fears are justified. The daily emphasizes that the main concern is with the so-called “social tourism” — the practice of applying for welfare benefits in countries like Germany or the UK, where these benefits are significantly above the average salary in Romania. There are tabloids reporting on outrageous cases of Romanian immigrants taking advantage of the EU welfare systems, but their number is relatively low.



In fact, to prevent the prospective abusing of the British welfare system, PM David Cameron has recently announced that as of January the 1st, jobseekers from the EU will not be allowed to claim welfare benefits during the first 3 months of their stay in Britain. Moreover, jobless Europeans will no longer receive housing aid, irrespective of when they arrived in the UK. The British daily The Telegraph however notes that EU immigrants are less likely to live on welfare than the British citizens themselves. The publication pleads for the free circulation of labour force in the EU, as being fully beneficial to the UK and Europe as a whole, in that it leads to a surprisingly efficient use of human resources.



In turn, Deutsche Welle admits that Germany, where demand for skilled labour is high, has long benefited from the arrival of Romanian and Bulgarian physicians, engineers or technicians. The French daily Le Monde reads that a massive inflow of Eastern European immigrants to France and other EU countries as of January the 1st is not very likely. According to experts quoted by the publication, two million Romanians are living in southern European countries, particularly Spain and Italy, and only a few of them will probably leave their first host country.

Signing of the protocol (foto:
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

Transition program towards F-35, launched

The Romanian Air Force’s transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched.   Romania’s decision to acquire advanced fighter...

Transition program towards F-35, launched
Energy (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
Today in the News Friday, 22 November 2024

The National Energy Strategy, adopted

Using local resources, reducing imports and making massive investments in production capacity are important elements of the new National Energy...

The National Energy Strategy, adopted
European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company