France to open job market to Central Europeans

France will open its borders and labor market to eight European Union member states from central Europe that joined in 2004, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday during his one-day visit in Warsaw.

France, unlike Britain, Ireland and Sweden, opted for a transition period to temporarily exclude workers from Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and other countries from fear that the new labor might undercut French workers by accepting lower wages.

"France has decided to lift all restrictions (on workers from the new member states) as of July 1," said Sarkozy.

This announcement was welcomed in Brussels and leaves only Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg that have opted to retain a transition period on the free movement of workers. "Most countries have already opened so the French are rather late, but it remains a good decision. Throwing the labour market wide open will be beneficial not only in France but also in other countries which have not yet done so," European Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla told Reuters.

French restrictions will remain for now for Romania and Bulgaria that joined the EU in 2007.

Source: Reuters