Sarkozy opens France to Polish workers one year early
June 5, 2008 // 0 CommentsVisiting Eastern Europe, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy announces lifting restrictions on Polish workers in France beginning July 1
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said that on July 1, 2008 France would open its borders to all workers from eight countries that joined the European Union four years ago. This allows the workers to come to France year earlier than originally agreed. Sarkozy made this announcement when meeting with Lech Kaczynski, in Warsaw.
“All restrictions will be lifted from July 1 this year, in other words one year earlier than planned,” Sarkozy said during a news conference with his Polish counterpart, “I cannot be committed to Europe and not make decisions that are consistent with that political commitment,” he added in comments that were confirmed by his office.
France is behind other countries in Europe in inviting these eastern European workers. Only Britain, Ireland and Sweden opened their borders immediately; France, long known for being protective, has been among the most reluctant. France already hosts a large number of immigrants from former colonies such as Algeria, many of whom are in France illegally and are called “clandestins”. France’s new labor rules will apply to workers from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. However, France will retain labor restrictions until 2014 on Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007. Poland is the largest of the new members states with 38 million inhabitants.
Sarkozy’s timing was no accident. The president of France assumes the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1. Sarkozy’s announcement came as France sought to extend an olive branch to countries that could prove to be important allies during the French presidency of the EU. It also came as some French companies complained of labor shortages. Since the eight countries joined the EU France has already twice relaxed border restrictions for eastern European workers for 150 professions suffering labor shortages and accounting for about 40 percent of the labor market. These trial measures quelled fears in France of an influx of cheap labor from eastern Europe. According to government statistics, only 30,000 seasonal workers and 4,850 regular workers came to France from eastern Europe from the beginning of 2005 to the end of 2007. The idea of Polish plumbers invading France, stealing jobs from French workers and bringing down pay has waned, since such fear mongering visions prompted France to reject the EU constitution in 2005.
Spidla of the Czech Republic applauded the French move and urged Germany, Austria, Belgium and Denmark – the only countries that have not yet opened their borders – to follow the example of France before the EU’s final deadline of May 2011. “It bodes well for the French presidency,” said Spidla, showing that Sarkozy’s move is already having the desired effect. In another conciliatory gesture toward Poland, Sarkozy has also said France would use the EU presidency to push for stronger strategic ties with Ukraine, something Poland supports, though he did not mention offering EU membership to the region.
Sarkozy has some big plans for the French EU presidency, which lasts for six months. Among Sarkozy’s pet projects is strengthening Europe’s defense, a plan he hopes to involve eastern European countries in. They have been warming to the idea of participating since Sarkozy said France was ready to rejoin the military command structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Sarkozy’s other main objective is making nuclear energy the cornerstone of Europe’s energy security. Deals for France to buy energy companies in Britain and elsewhere are already afoot. 80 percent of France’s energy is nuclear-based, and Sarkozy hopes to influence the rest of Europe to follow France’s example and produce more of their own nuclear power, freeing them from dependence on resources from the Middle East and other countries.
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