By the end of 2008 Bulgaria was in its first EU membership transitional stage. Basically that means that Bulgarians could work in EU country members with a work permit. From January 1 2009 Greece, Portugal, Spain and Hungary made a decision to open their labor markets for Bulgarian citizens. Denmark also announced that it will open its labor market from May 1 2009.

The EU country members, which asked to keep their transitional labor measures against Bulgaria and Romania needed to report their decision by January 1 2009. The 11 countries, which decided to do that - among which are France, Great Britain, Germany, Holland and Belgium, will be able to change their decision at any time and open their labor markets.

The important thing is that from now on Bulgarians will be able to work freely in Greece and to use all labor rights, which apply to the Greek citizens. But what are really the changes?

What applies to Bulgarian citizens, who have already worked in Greece - legally or illegally

-       Bulgarians living in Greece have the same right that Greek citizens have - to apply for jobs equally.

-       The labor services have to service all Bulgarians equally with all Greeks and all other EU citizens.

-       Racist attitude is forbidden against all Bulgarians working in Greece, due to their nationality.

-       Bulgarians have the right to get qualifications.

-       The same tax concession need to apply the Greeks and Bulgarians.

-       Bulgarians, working in Greece have the right to be members of syndicates, to be chosen for administration or management positions in the syndicate and to participate in elections.

-       All Bulgarian family members working in Greece, independently of their nationality, can be issued a permanent residence permit, after being in the country for 5 years. This right is lost if one leaves the country for over 2 years.

-       All family members are eligible for social aids and to be hired at a paid or unpaid job.

What applies to Bulgarians who want to find a job in Greece?

-       Bulgarians looking for a job in Greece can find information about available positions on the European labor network EURES. It has been created in 1993, in order to stimulate labor mobility for EU citizens. Every labor service, which is part of EURES presents data about work and life conditions in its country, the situation of the labor market and it is a mediator between the regional labor services and the worker.

-       When a citizen of a new EU country member is hired in one of the 15 EU country members, he receives a residence permit, insurance, the right not to be discriminated against due to his nationality and recognition of all qualifications.

Free movement right and stay for up to three months

All EU citizens can travel freely with their ID or passport in countries of the EU. For a stay up to three months all required is a valid ID or passport.

A stay for more than six months must be registered

The right to live in a EU country for more than six months is still conditional. In order to able to stay in a EU country for more than six months, all Bulgarian citizens need to:

-       Work - have a contract or to have their own business

-       Have enough money and a health insurance, in order to proof that they are not a burden to the insurance system of the country during their stay. The country member does not have to set a specific minimum amount.

-       To be on an internship or students and to have enough money and a health insurance.

-       To be a member of a EU citizens family, who fall under the upper mentioned categories.

Residence documents are technically not applicable for EU citizens. But in some cases authorities can require them. What is needed for a over six month stay is a registration. For registration one needs a valid passport or ID and a proof that the upper mentioned conditions are met-in other words, a job contract and so on. Interns and students also need to prove that they have enough means for themselves and for their families (if they have one), so that they are not a burden to the country.

EU citizens and their families cannot be deported from a EU country member due to financial reasons or because their documents have expired.

The eleven countries, who have closed their labor markets for Bulgarian citizens, have to open it until December 31 2011. If they want to keep it closed, they can do it for two additional years, the most and they have to prove to the European Commission that their own labor market is unstable and it cannot handle foreign workers. The transitional agreements cannot continue for over seven years after accepting a country into the EU-on other words, Bulgaria will be a rightful member of the EU, the latest by 2013.

Based on latest reports of the European Commission, Bulgarian and Romanian workers have contributed a lot for the economic growth the EU countries. They usually fill up free market niches and do not burden the social system. Meanwhile there is insignificant proof that workers from new country members have taken jobs from local workers.