EU official supports Schroeder on labor market transition, CEE leaders unfazed

European Enlargement Commissioner Guenther Verheugen supports the seven-year transition period for workers from new European Union member countries, proposed by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "I think that seven years is a sensible timeframe," said Verheugen. Schroeder called in a speech on Monday for such a transition period, before the EU labor market opens to some 12 new members, mainly from Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman said that Schroeder's statement represents only the position of one EU country, while several other countries, such as Ireland, Scandinavian countries or Spain, do not share Germany's fears. Zeman was also speaking on behalf of Polish and Slovak Prime Ministers, Jerzy Buzek and Mikulas Dzurindza, with whom he had met in Bratislava. Polish Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski said that he is surprised by Schroeder's statement, but the situation is hardly dramatic. (Reuters, Rzeczpospolita, p.A5) T.J.