Kudos

Kudos to EU nations Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Finland for lifting employment restrictions for all members of the European Union. They join along with Britain. Ireland, and Sweden in making it easier for all Europeans to have equal access to their labour markets. Other nations such as Austria, Germany, and France have not yet lifted the employment ban mainly because of geographic reasons. Austria in particular is worried that its close proximity to the former communist states would lead to a flooding of its labour market and in turn lead to higher rates of unemployment for its native population. Other EU member nations are waiting for the economic gaps to close before they allow any immigration from the new 2004 EU members. The BENELUX states have plans to lift the ban in the near future, but they are doing so gradually, sector by sector. I believe that this is another positive step in the right direction for a unified and strong Europe. Eliminating borders and restrictions to all workers will eventually allow for the newer Balkan states to continue to rebuild their economies, help their people to learn study abroad working in other nations, learn English, and experience true democracy to bring back to their native lands.