WRITTEN QUESTION E-2953/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Enlargement - freedom of movement

The Commission has probably misunderstood my question E-1276/98(1). I was asking not about negotiating positions, but about other aspects on which I hope for more enlightenment at the second time of asking:

1. Does the Commission have any studies on southwards enlargement and the migration of workers produced before that enlargement? If so, what studies, and what is their substance?

2. Does the Commission have any studies on the implications of southwards enlargement in respect of the pressure of immigration?

3. Does the Commission have any studies into potential immigration after the forthcoming enlargement?

4. What are the Commission's realistic estimates of the transitional periods?

5. Is the Commission assuming varying expectations and where does the Commission expect to see the variations?

6. What types of people does the Commission assume will wish to migrate?

7. Why will they wish to migrate?

8. How are they expected to be distributed among the target countries?

In answering these questions will the Commission draw in particular on data from the period after the presentation of Agenda 2000 last July?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1998)

Transition periods were agreed for the entry into force of the provisions of Community law on free movement of workers for the accession of Spain and Portugal to the Community. These periods were seven years, with a longer period of 10 years for Luxembourg, during which free movement of workers was to be progressively implemented. When in practice no significant migration flows occurred, but rather the number of nationals from Spain and Portugal seeking employment in the other Member States decreased, the Council decided unanimously to reduce these periods to six years (eight years for Luxembourg). As in all previous enlargements there had been fears of a migration wave, and as in all previous enlargements these fears did not materialise.

A number of studies and articles have been published concerning the present enlargement which attempt to assess the impact on future migration flows. The Commission is sending copies of two studies(2) direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat. These explain the pull and push factors which influence migration as well as the difficulty of assessing in a scientifically and methodologically correct way the impact of the enlargement.

As for the details of an eventual transition period the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to his Written Question E-1276/98. It is the Member States that formulate collectively the Community negotiation positions. No decision has been taken so far on transition periods with respect to the free movement of workers.

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998, p. 87.

(2) "Ostmitteleuropa auf dem Weg in die EU - Transformation, Verflectung, Reformbedarf" by the Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, published in 1997, and "Auswirkungen der EU-Osterweiterung auf den österreichischen Arbeitsmarkt" by the "Osterreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung", published in 1998.