Flanders, the last Belgian region that was against allowing Romanian and Bulgarian workers in the country, has recently lifted its veto. The official decision is expected this week from a committee representing the Flemish, the Walloon and the Brussels regions. Once this decision is adopted, Romanian and Bulgarian workers should be allowed in Belgium as of the beginning of next year.

Belgium is one of the remaining 10 EU countries that are still applying restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers. These restrictions should end at the beginning of 2014 at the latest, according to the decision made when the two countries joined the EU in 2007.

Should the decision get the green light in the commission, Belgium would be the first country to respond to Romania and Bulgaria’s demand earlier in July for the EU to open national markets for the two countries' workers as of 2012. The European Parliament adopted a resolution asking the same thing in October this year.

UK has recently confirmed it plans to keep labor restrictions until the end of 2013.

editor@romania-insider.com