Scandanvaian countries look to Polish workers to make up for labor shortage

The Minister for European Affairs of Denmark Bertel Haarder announced on Friday that beginning 2004, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Ireland will entirely open their labor markets for Poles. The same initiative will be taken up by non-EU members Norway and Iceland. "Our countries are in need of many workers [from Poland] such as nurses, IT specialists, construction workers as well as highly specialized scientists" said Haarder. Poles who will be successful at finding a job in Denmark will automatically receive permission to work. However, if in the first seven years after Poland becomes an EU member, the influx of potential employees from new EU countries will be too high, then the freedom may be restricted or withdrawn. In related news, on October 28 at a special EU summit in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Leszek Miller will be presented with the financial terms under which Poland will be allowed to join the EU. Miller will have to accept these by December 15. "Those who will fail to do so may have to wait even until 2008 before the doors open again as the EU agenda is very tight," said Lykke Friis from the Danish Institute of International Affairs (DUPI). She added that many issues may be renegotiated later. (Rzeczpospolita, Sept. 21-22; p. A1, B2) A.Z.