Reid: EU migration will be ‘carefully managed’
Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants are likely have their working rights in the UK restricted if the countries enter the EU next year, John Reid has confirmed.
Speaking at the Police Superintendents Association in Chester, the home secretary said immigration would be “carefully managed” if the EU expands again.
He emphasised the social dangers of unrestricted access – claiming it increased crime rates and posed problems for policing. As such, he insisted the government must ensure “all safeguards are in place”.
“As global migration increases and the EU continues to expand, we need to be ready for fresh challenges – including in the law enforcement field,” Mr Reid said.
“That is why we need to manage immigration carefully, including in respect of the forthcoming decision over Romania and Bulgaria.
“We need to consider very carefully all the implications of accession of new states and ensure that we have all the necessary safeguards in place, right down to local borough level, to reassure the public that this movement will be managed fairly and competently.”
He added: “I know that law enforcement agencies have already been working closely with the Romanian and Bulgarian governments to identify the new challenges.”
The EU last expanded in 2004 to include ten new countries – eight from the former Communist bloc. Since this time, an estimated 600,000 eastern Europeans have moved to the UK, many of them from Poland.
It has been suggested that the UK – one of only three EU members which allows unrestricted working rights to people from new member states – is considering introducing a permit system.
This would be similar to the scheme for migrants from outside the EU, which prefers to provide working permits for educated people, or those with professional qualifications that can benefit the economy.
Ministers and businesses have insisted that migrants benefit the economy by filling gaps in the market.
It is expected that the EU will make a final decision on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania next month.
The EU is expected to make a final decision on whether the countries can join the federation next month.
Shadow home secretary David Davis urged the government to impose restrictions. “It is all very well for the home secretary to indicate there will be restrictions, but what we need is a firm decision to end uncertainty,” he said.
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green added: “John Reid talks about ensuring we have the ‘necessary safeguards’ in place. A major safeguard would be secure and effective border controls – something we have patently lost under Labour.”
