HUNGARY- The Hungarian SZDSZ New Generation welcomes the decision of the European Union which brings forth Romania and Bulgaria joining the Union on January 1, 2007. We, young liberals, are fully convinced that the European perspective for the countries in the region ensures the prosperity of the region, as a whole. At the same time, we are convinced that such prosperity can become reality only if the rights for the freedom of movement of people and for the freedom of employment are provided to everyone without restrictions, including the citizens of the newest member states.

We would also like to recall that contrary to the old member states, since its accession in 2004 Hungary has consequently committed itself to the deepening of the European integration and abolishing the limitations existent in the labour market. In light of this, we find the approach which intends to impose limitations on the employment of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens in Hungary, and at the same time demands the Western-European opening of the labour market, regrettable and hypocritical.

In the first half of 2006, urging the revision of the still-existing limitations on the labour-market, Hungary reasoned that the opening of the labour market has nowhere resulted in an unmanageable inflow of the labour force and in fact the guest workers in every case have positively affected the recipient states’ economy. Based on the information and estimates currently available for us, this observation is equally appropriate in the case of Romania and Bulgaria, as well.

We, liberals, have stated two years ago at the time of the Hungarian referendum on dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians, that there is no longer need for borders and dividing lines; there is no need for decisions that separate the representatives of the majority and minority nation. Instead, the abolishment of the currently existing borders (basically the “Trianon-borders”) is much desirable. The enlargement of the European Union, the memberships within the EU and the abolishment of the limitations on the movement of the labour force all serve this goal. The New Generation hereby urges the Hungarian Government to do everything possible to ensure that the citizens of the countries accessing the EU in 2007 will have access to the Hungarian labour market without restrictions.