Noorwegen overweegt dichtgooien grenzen voor werknemers uit Oost-Europa (en)

Norway has become the latest country to launch discussions on restricting the free access of labour from the new EU member states.

"The pressure on Norway would be enormous if Norway was the only country without such arrangements," said Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Erna Solberg to Dagsavisen after Sweden's Prime Minister announced Friday (30 January) that his government will propose restrictions.

Norway, which is not a member of the EU, is bound to open its labour market in the same way as EU member states via the European Economic Area (EEA) agreements.

"We are pleased that Sweden has announced restrictions, and we believe it should lead to similar arrangements in Norway. If the government does not follow our neighbouring countries on this, the pressure on Norway would be extreme and the challenge to our social welfare schemes might be tremendous", said Ellen Stensrud from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions to Dagsavisen.

The Dutch and the Danes have also recently decided to restrict access to their labour markets prior to enlargement.

The UK and Ireland are the only two EU countries willing to open their labour markets fully to the newcomers after enlargement day on 1 May.

The enlargement agreement says that during the first two years national measures may result in restriction of full labour market access.

These restrictions may be prolonged for a further two years in those current member states where serious disturbances of the labour market are foreseen.