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Until the end of 2008 Bulgaria was in the first transitional period in its membership in the EU. Basically this means that Bulgarians could work in EU countries only with a work permit. From January 1^st, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Hungary made the decision to open their job market for Bulgarian citizens. Denmark has also announced it will open its job market on May 1^st, 2009.

The EU members, who decided to continue their transitional measures towards Bulgaria and Romania, needed to announce their decision until January 1^st 2009. Those 11 countries, which have decided to leave the job market closed – among, which are France, Great Britain, Germany, Holland, and Belgium can change their decision at any time and open it.

The important thing is that from now on Bulgarians will be able to work freely in Greece and use all Greek labor rights. So what exactly are the changes?

What rights do Bulgarians have who have worked in Greece either legally or illegally?

-      Bulgarians living in Greece have the same and equal rights as Greeks to apply for available job positions.

-      The job search services are obliged to serve Bulgarians, Greeks, and other EU citizens equally.

-      Nationality racism is forbidden against Bulgarians working in Greece.

-      Bulgarians have to right for qualifications and requalification.

-      Bulgarians need to have the same social and tax concessions as Greeks.

-      Bulgarians working in Greece can have the right to become members of syndicates, to be chosen for administrative and managerial positions in the syndicate, and to participate in elections.

-      Each member of the Bulgarian family can obtain a permanent residence permit after living in Greece for five years. This right also extends to non-Bulgarian members of the family. However, if one of the family members leaves the country for more than 2 years at a time, the 5 years are renewed.

-      All family members have the right for insurance benefits and the right to be hired for a paid and non-paid job.

What are the rights of Bulgarians seeking employment in Greece?

-      Bulgarians willing to work in Greece can get information about available positions from the European network for employment EURES. It was created during 1993 in order to stimulate work mobility for EU citizens. Every employment service included in EURES provides data for the work and living conditions in their country, the labor market conditions and is a mediator between regional employment bureaus and future employees.

-      When a citizen of a new EU member country is hired in one of the 15 older EU member countries, he/she gets the right for a residence permit, insurance, not to be discriminated due to nationality, and diploma recognition.

Free movement right and residence for up to three months

-      All EU citizens can travel freely with their ID card or passport within the EU countries. For a stay up to three months the only requirement is a valid ID card or a passport.

Residence for more than six months must be registered

The residence right for more than six months in another EU member country is still conditional. In order to be able to reside in an EU member country, all Bulgarians need:

-      To work – with a contract or to own their own business

-      To have enough financial means and a health insurance, in order to prove they are not a burden to the insurance system of the country during their stay. The country does not necessarily have to set a minimum amount, which it believes to be enough.

-      To be interns or students and to have enough financial means and an insurance.

-       To be a family member of an EU citizen, who gets into one of the upper mentioned categories.

Technically the residential permits are obsolete for EU citizens but in some cases the authorities can require them. A registration is required if the duration of the stay is longer than six months. For it one needs a valid passport or an ID card and a proof that all the upper mentioned conditions are fulfilled. The interns and students also need to prove that they have enough financial means and are not a burden to the system.

Citizens of the EU cannot be extradited form country member due to financial reasons or because their documents have expired.

The eleven countries, which have not opened their labor markets for Bulgarians, have to do it until December 31^st, 2011. After that, if they want to keep their doors closed for mostly 2 years, they will need to report to the European commission that their labor markets are shaken up and they cannot accept foreign work force. The transitional arrangements cannot continue for more than seven years after the acceptance of the country in the EU—in other words Bulgaria will be an equal member of the European Union by the end of 2013.

According to the last reports from the European Commission, Bulgarians and Romanians who are working in EU member countries have contributed a lot for the economic growth. Usually they fill up available sectors and do not burden the social system. At the same time, there is insignificant proof that workers from the new members of the EU have taken jobs from locals.