Belgian labour market is open to 8 more EU countries
Czech Republic welcomes the decision of the Belgian government to end the transitional period applicable to the free movement of persons from the 8 Member States that acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004.
Czech citizens will no longer have to apply for work permits in Belgium after 1 May 2009.Citizens of these eight countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) will be free to exercise their profession in Belgium without having to obtain a work permit first, and they will be able to work legally in Belgium, providing they comply with social security and tax rules.
The favourable decision of the Belgian government is also a result of the lasting and targeted activities of the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs aimed to remove all barriers to the mobility of workers, with the free movement of persons being and remaining one of the main priorities of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council, in line with the motto of the Presidency a “Europe without Barriers”.
As of 1 May 2009, Czech citizens can work in 25 of the 27 EU Member States without any restrictions. Germany and Austria are the last states to open their labour markets to the new Member States.
Contact:
- Jana Říhová, Spokesperson for Czech Presidency, Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
- tel.: +420 221 922 249, GSM: +420 725 761 147 ; e-mail: jana.rihova@mpsv.cz, www.mpsv.cz
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:31
