This regular newsletter publication consists of substantive summaries and reviews of events and conferences organized by the New European Democracies Project, as well as focused analytical essays on events in the region with the goal of objectively covering issues that directly impact U.S. policymaking and U.S. business interests in the region.
May 1, 2006 marked the end of the first phase of the transition period restricting the free movement of labor from the new EU countries of Europe (CEE) to the old EU member states. This occasion offers a good opportunity to overview: first, the "open door" experiences of the past two years; the labor market policies of the old EU member states for the next phase; third, the employment prospects of citizens from the candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania. Currently, only seven countries out of the EU new CEE member states to take up employment without restrictions.
