§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's position is on the United Kingdom's rebate in the context of the negotiations on the EU's multi-annual financial framework; and if he will make a statement. [150781]
§ Mr. MacShaneInitial discussion of the next financial perspective should begin next month, after the Commission publishes its future financing communication. The current financial perspective expires at the end of 2006, and the Government look forward to the successful negotiation of a new financial perspective, for the period beginning in 2007. The Government believe that the rebate remains fully justified as a fair means of redressing the UK's disproportionate high net contribution to the EC Budget.
§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to implement the transitional restrictions which the UK can apply in regard to the nationals of the EU accession countries. [151067]
§ Mr. MacShaneUnder the EU Accession Treaty, nationals of Cyprus and Malta have the same rights to work in another member state as are currently enjoyed by nationals of the existing member states. However, nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia ("the eight relevant states" are subject to transitional provisions.
Under the transitional arrangements, until 30 April 2006 member states are free to apply national measures or bilateral agreements restricting the rights of nationals from the eight relevant states to work in their country. From 1 May 2006, member states must either grant these nationals the right to move freely for the purpose of work in accordance with Community law, or continue to apply national measures or bilateral agreements. Any grant of this right may, however, be subject to suspensions if the member state undergoes or foresees disturbances to its labour market which could seriously threaten the standard of living or level of employment in a particular region or occupation Such suspensions may last, at the latest, until 30 April 2011.
291WIn line with its announcement of December 2002, the Government intend to grant citizens of the eight relevant states the right to work freely in the UK labour market from I May 2004. Section 2 of the EU (Accessions) Act 2003 provides a power to make regulations to give effect to this decision. The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2326), which currently implement Community law rights of European Economic Area (EEA) nationals to enter and reside in the UK, will be applied to nationals of the eight relevant states as they apply to nationals of the EEA.
From accession the Government will be monitoring the effect of their decision on the UK labour market. In the unexpected event of a large influx of workers to the UK, which seriously threaten the level of employment or standard of living in a particular region or occupation, there are safeguards available to re-impose restrictions on workers. The Government could, in the normal way, re-impose restrictions on some or all of the eight relevant states by repealing or suspending the application of any regulations made under the Act and could exclude nationals of one or more of the eight relevant states from the right to work in the UK under powers contained in the Act.