Spain will restrict its labor market for Romanians, due to the growing unemployment among its own citizens, according to sources quoted by RFI. The decision will be taken until the end of the week, when EU institutions and the European capitals will be notified regarding this situation.

“Sources told RFI that Spain will restrict access in the labor market because of the growing unemployment. The unemployment in Spain reached 20 percent of the active population", according to RFI Romania, quoted by Mediafax newswire.

However, Romanians that are already working in Spain will not be affected by this measure.

Spain was one of the few Western European countries that have opened most of the labor market just after Romania joined the EU in 2007. According to the Ministry of Labour and Immigration in Spain, about 850,000 Romanians were living in this country at the end of 2010.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)