'56,000 more workers' for the UK

Around 56,000 Romanian and Bulgarian workers are likely to migrate to Britain next year, new research has suggested.

The Institute for Public Policy and Research estimated that around 41,000 Romanians and 15,000 Bulgarians will come to work in Britain in the first year after their countries join the European Union.

Romania and Bulgaria could join the EU from January 1, although ascension could be postponed for a year if the countries do not meet the joining criteria.

The IPPR said that its estimate was based on what happened after the last EU enlargement in 2004.

However, the IPPR said that the government should allow labour market access to Romanian and Bulgarian nationals, because the numbers were likely to be relatively small and the impacts on the UK labour market were likely to be positive.

Danny Sriskandarajah, IPPR associate director, said: "Romanian and Bulgarian accession should be seen as an opportunity not a threat. Workers from these countries will join an increasingly important Eastern European workforce currently doing hard-to-fill jobs in key sectors and regions.

"If the last EU enlargement is anything to go by, many people will get very worked up about migration from Romania and Bulgaria when they join the EU. But just as last time, we are likely to see turnstiles not floodgates as young and hard-working people come to the UK to work, save, learn English and go home."

According to the 2001 census, there were 7,500 Romanian-born people and 5,350 Bulgarians living in the UK.

(KMcA/CD)