Belgium maintains labor market restrictions for Romanians until 2012

Belgium decided on Friday to limit the free access to jobs for Romanians and Bulgarians for three more years, Novinite informs. The reasons invoked by the Belgian government were the global financial crisis and the high unemployment rate in the Southern areas of the country. The decision follows similar ruling of Holland and Luxembourg.

Belgium was one of the first states to impose two-year restrictions for Romania and Bulgaria, after the two countries joined the European Union, in January 2007.

The restrictions may be maintained, according to EU regulations, for two more years, after 2012.