Government set to wait and see before next EU enlargement

FURTHER barriers to letting Europeans move freely around the European Union (EU) were removed recently when Justice Minister Michael McDowell adopted new EU legislation.

Up to now the EU’s freedom of movement has been limited to those with a job in another member state, and only their spouse and children are allowed accompany them.

Under the new rules this will be extended to a worker’s partner, regardless of gender or sexuality, and to extended family members in certain circumstances, such as ill health.

It also entitles all of them for the first time to remain permanently in the country after five years living here full time. The partner or spouse will be able to remain on too, even if the relationship ends.

Mr McDowell, made it quite clear that this is not the thin end of the wedge to Ireland allowing gay marriages.

Mr McDowell fostered the legislation when he chaired his fellow justice ministers during the Irish EU presidency.

The change applies too to Irish people living in any of the EU’s countries.

The change comes at a time when Ireland’s relationship with fellow EU citizens is under the spotlight. In the latest Eurobarometer poll, 7% of Irish questioned said they associated the EU with “lots of foreign workers” and see this as a negative. This was more than double the EU average of 3%.

The Government was careful not to raise the issue or ask the people before agreeing to open the country up to workers from the new member states two years ago. All the indications are that they were correct — otherwise the country would not have had enough workers for the jobs being created.

But a lot of the romance of hosting Polish workers, and others from the Baltics, is wearing off. As in every community, racism is never far beneath the surface, as the latest report of the Equality Authority shows.

The next enlargement of the EU will pose a real challenge to Ireland. Romania and Bulgaria, with a combined population of 30 million are due to join next year, though this could be postponed to 2008.

Already Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has indicated that he may avail of the two to five-year delay in giving these workers free access to the Irish market.

The number of new jobs being created will slip this year and next year, according to the latest spring economic forecast. Construction is set to slow, leaving competition for work between newcomers and Irish tradesmen.

The Government is likely to wait and see how receptive other member states are. If most other countries allow them to work, Ireland will be less likely to be deluged with migrants from these two countries.

If the economy continues to grow, Ireland may end up competing with its EU counterparts for these workers yet.