A proposal by the European Commission allowing member states to exclude workers from countries in Eastern Europe for up to seven years after those countries join was rejected by Poland today.
"It is very clear we are not in agreement with the proposals of [Enlargement] Commissioner Verheugen. They are very close to the German and Austrian proposals, with some changes. Naturally we don't accept that position," Poland's chief EU negotiator, Mr Jan Kulakowski, said.
Trying to strike a compromise on the sensitive issue of free movement of labour, Mr Guenter Verheugen proposed a general transition period of five years when member countries could impose their own restrictions.
Once the five years are up, any member state would be able to keep its national provisions for an extra two years in the case of serious disturbances in its labour market.
Germany and Austria have called for a seven-year transition period on the free movement of labour. They are afraid of a influx of workers from neighbouring candidate states such as Poland and Hungary.
"Our position today is that no transition period is necessary in the area of free movement of people," said Mr Kulakowski.
AFP