Estonia Wants Equality in Free Movement of Labour

Estonia takes calmly Germany's wish to set a transition period for free movement of labour for new member states of the European Union, but is opposed to the union's wish to restrict access to jobs of workers with low qualification and attract specialists. "Selection is not in our interest, this is in no way acceptable. If the EU decided to restrict free movement of labour it should apply equally to all spheres," Estonia's chief negotiator at talks with the EU, Foreign Ministry Deputy Under-secretary Alar Streimann said. Mati Ilisson, director general of the Labour Market Department, said that naturally the risk of the EU luring good specialists away from Estonia exists, citing by way of example Germany's offer of jobs to thousands of information technology specialists. "I know the Czechs and the Poles are similarly concerned," Ilisson said, adding that nevertheless he did not foresee an enormous outflow of labour, as most people prefer to work in their home environment. He said some 15,500 people have for different reasons moved from Estonia to EU countries this year while 800-900 EU nationals are working in Estonia.