Hungary to mirror EU labour curbs

Hungary says fellow EU newcomers will be exempt from the restrictions

Hungary's Prime Minister has confirmed his country will respond in kind to labour curbs to be imposed by current EU members on Central European workers.

"This is primarily a decision of equal standing," Peter Medgyessy said.

The EU's 15 current members, fearing a wave of migration after the 1 May expansion, are taking measures to tighten access to their labour markets.

The Hungarian government says it will respond individually to each country's restrictions on its citizens.

The restrictions will not apply to the nine countries which will join the EU at the same time as Hungary.

We will impose exactly the same restrictions on current EU states in the next seven years following accession as these countries impose on Hungarian citizens Zoltan J Gal Government spokesman Guide to EU migration measures

Government spokesman Zoltan J Gal said they would hold bilateral talks with current EU members ahead of 1 May to ask them to change their minds.

If talks fail, they will go ahead with their new policy.

"The (Hungarian) government will use the principle of reciprocity," Mr Gal said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"This means that we will impose exactly the same restrictions on current EU states in the next seven years following accession as these countries impose on Hungarian citizens."

Proud

Mr Medgyessy confirmed the decision on Thursday.

"Hungary is a country proud of its values and its knowledge," he said.

The country has an unemployment rate of 5.8%, compared with the EU average of 8%.

Hungarian wages are one fifth of the EU average, but officials say their low labour mobility means Hungarian workers pose no threat to Western Europe.

EU treaties allow current members to impose restrictions on the free movement of labour for up to seven years after new countries join in.