EU: Looking to Boost Your Economy? Look East.

According to the European Commission, Britain has reaped the benefit of fully opening its borders to citizens of new EU member states of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus. The influx of workers from central and eastern Europe has boosted Britain’s economy, relieved skilled shortages and cut unemployment lines. The European Commission is urging countries that had imposed tough restrictions to follow Britain’s lead. The British government initially predicted that as few as 13,000 workers a year would head to the UK after the EU expanded to 25. The actual numbers have far outstripped forecasts with almost 300,000 workers – half from Poland – heading to the UK in the 16 months after EU enlargement in May 2004. After enlargement, the British government was criticized for not imposing sanctions as tough as those of there countries, such as France and Germany. But the commission report concluded that, far from increasing unemployment and wrecking prospects for British workers – as critics predicted – the arrival of newcomers has stimulated the economy. When the EU expanded, only Britain, Ireland and Sweden decided not to impose work restrictions.
The commission noted those nations had “experienced high economic growth, a drop of unemployment and a rise of employment”. Vladimir Spidla, European commissioner for employment and social affairs, said: “After enlargement, we have seen in all aspects positive tendencies. Employment is on the rise and economic growth is accelerating.” The commission noted that since May 2004, the rate of employment had increased in the UK, thus silencing fears that the influx would increase unemployment. It also said migration has not been higher into countries with open borders than those with tough restrictions.
Excerpted from: UK Economy Helped by Workers from Eastern Europe, workpermit.com, 9 February 2006