Job Discussion Forums

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

What's the situation with the new member states? I believe the joining date is set for May 2004. Will EU citizens have the right to live and seek employment in those state as of that date, or will the process take some time to come into effect?

BTW, here's a useful site outlining the proceedures for living or working in the current 15 member states:

http://citizens.eu.int/

Cheers,
Mike

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

Hey, I'm not sure what the answer to that question is, but thanks a lot for pointing out that great website!

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

My pleasure, DC.

Incidently, in case anyone else looks at this posting, I think the answer to my own question is that most of the current members of the EU will introduce a waiting period of 2-7 years (varies from country to country) before the freedom of employment rule comes into effect.

Last I heard, the only two countries who are still willing to accept workers from the new states (and consequently their own citizens will allowed to work in the new member states) are the UK and Ireland, but both of those are apparently close to also introducing a waiting period.

Mike.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

The situation for the UK has recently changed as, with Ireland, it was due to allow full rights. Following a panic about this isolated position it is changing, but only insofar as it will take two years residence to qualify for unemployment benefits. If you have a job (or your own resources)there is no problem and immediate entry will be allowed.

The detailed situation is a bit uncertain at the moment, but that seems to be what is going to happen.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

As I understand the position each new member state will do things differently. Europe is NOT a federal union of states, but more like a loose confederation.

So don't expect Slovakia to do things the same way as Poland.

But things will generally speaking get more dificult for those who are not citizens of a EU member state.

whhels22 · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 13

I'm an American and I've been in Lithuania for the last 9 months. From what I have heard from employers the procedure is still the same for hiring Americans but it is now much easier to hire poeple from the UK.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

[brain f*rt deleted]