Bitter debate marks lifting of Bulgaria and Romania labour restrictions

EUObserver and many other news sources reported that the restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians being allowed to work throughout the European Union were lifted on the 1 January 2014, but the debate surrounding the move had been bitter particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom.

BBC News reported on 2 January 2013 that tensions had surfaced in Germany's new ruling coalition over how to handle migrants from Bulgaria and Romania.

Nine countries lifted restrictions - Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Spain.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 01.01.14: Romania and Bulgaria EU migration restrictions lifted http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25565302

BBC News, 01.01.14: Q&A: Bulgarian and Romanian immigration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21523319

Euronews, 31.12.13: Bulgarians and Romanians no longer bound by EU work limitations http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/31/bulgarians-and-romanians-no-longer-bound-by-eu-work-limitations/

The Guardian, 01.01.14: British workers left unprotected says Labour as immigration row deepens http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/01/immigration-british-workers-romanians-bulgarians

Deutsche Welle, 01.01.14: EU opens doors to Romanian and Bulgarian workers http://dw.de/p/1Ajs4

EurActiv, 21.12.13: UK no longer advocates for EU enlargement http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/uk-longer-strongest-advocate-eu-news-532554

ESO: Background information: Curbs on EU benefits to come into force on 1 January http://www.europeansources.info/record/curbs-on-eu-benefits-to-come-into-force-on-1-january/

ESO: Background information: Brussels on guard over UK's Romania, Bulgaria plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-on-guard-over-uks-romania-bulgaria-plan-david-cameron-exactly-right-on-migration-says-michael-gove/

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/01: End of restrictions on free movement of workers from Bulgaria and Romania, 1 January 2014. Statement by European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-1_en.htm

Blog: The European Citizen, 31.12.13: Free Movement Night's Eve? http://theeuropeancitizen.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/free-movement-nights-eve.html

EUObserver, 02.01.14: UK vows to control immigration as Bulgaria, Romania curbs end http://euobserver.com/social/122617

EurActiv, 02.01.14: EU tries to calm fears of Bulgarian, Romanian exodus http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/eu-tries-calm-fears-bulgarian-ro-news-532555

Deutsche Welle, 01.01.14: 'No proof of welfare abuse' with new EU mobility http://dw.de/p/1Ajs2

BBC News, 02.01.14: Migrants spark German coalition rift amid welfare angst http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25575750

Deutsche Welle, 02.01.14: Social Democrats say CSU coalition partners 'have not understood Europe' http://dw.de/p/1AkHF

Deutsche Welle, 03.01.14: Germany's fear of job seekers from new EU members http://dw.de/p/1Akcq

Euro|Topics, 02.01.14: EU job market open for Romanians and Bulgarians http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aeltere/NEWSLETTER-2014-01-02-EU-job-market-open-for-Romanians-and-Bulgarians

Euro|Topics: Tag: Who's saying what: Freedom of movement divides Europe http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2013-12-freizuegigkeit/

Spiegel Online International, 03.01.14: Coalition Row: Merkel Tries to Defuse 'Poverty Immigration' Debate http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/coalition-conflict-merkel-tries-to-defuse-poverty-immigration-debate-a-941737.html

Deutsche Welle, 05.01.14: Harms: 'The CSU is scaremongering' http://dw.de/p/1AlaP

Welt am Sonntag, 04.01.14: Wolfgang Scheida dismayed by "poverty immigration" debate (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136027-Wolfgang-Scheida-dismayed-by-poverty-immigration-debate

El País, 02.01.14: For José Ignacio Torreblanca Great Britain is becoming Little England (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136141-For-Jose-Ignacio-Torreblanca-Great-Britain-is-becoming-Little-England

Delfi, 06.01.14: EU freedom of movement no longer works (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136123-EU-freedom-of-movement-no-longer-works

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 27.08.14: Content analysis shows Romanians have tended to be linked to criminality and economic poverty in UK media coverage http://bit.ly/VQBao1

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