The European Union and Immigration from New Member Countries

While other countries imposed various kinds of quotas and restrictions, the UK, Ireland, and Sweden allowed workers from the new member countries access to their labor markets. The UK implemented a Worker Registration Scheme, and required all immigrants from the new member countries to obtain a work permit. Since the accession, till December 31, 2005, nearly 345,000 applicants from the new member countries registered with the Worker Registration Scheme to work in the UK. Of these, around 329,000 applicants were issued worker registration certificates and cards. The Polish were the largest group of all (204,895) followed by the Lithuanians (44,715).

Though many of the older EU members have imposed restrictions on immigration from the new member states, it is believed that these countries will eventually have to take in an increasing number of immigrants to offset the growing number of vacancies in their labor markets caused by ageing populations and exacerbated by the declining fertility rates in Europe. The Total Fertility Rate in Europe was estimated to be below 1.5 since 1995 through 2003, making an eventual decrease in the EU population inevitable. This decrease in population is expected to have serious consequences for EU's future in terms of growth rates and development...