Can Roma people from Bulgaria and Romania work in the EU?
Starting in January 2014 – seven years after accession – there will be complete freedom of movement for workers from Bulgaria and Romania. For EU citizens, the free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by EU law and includes the right to work in another Member State without needing a work permit. It is an essential part of the Single Market and of European citizenship. Roma people who are Bulgarian or Romanian nationals enjoy the same rights under EU law as other EU nationals. But as transitional arrangements still apply regarding the right to free movement of workers on the basis of Bulgaria’s and Romania’s Accession Treaty this means that all Bulgarian or Romanian nationals may face restrictions to this right until 31 December 2013 at the latest. The situation for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals is as follows: Workers from Bulgaria and Romania currently enjoy full rights to free movement pursuant to EU law in 14 (of 25) Member States (Denmark, Estonia, C
