This is the meaning of my European commitment

The Government has to take its decision on the opening progressive and controlled in our labour market to new Member States nationals employees Europeans. In May 2004, following the accession of new Member States, this issue was temporarily postponed: the France, due to its high unemployment rate, was for a time decided to continue to require their citizens to any application for work authorization. The systematic opposition to the employment situation made difficult acceptance. But, today, we can hide us behind a total closure of our labour market. It would be, I am convinced, an irrational reaction at any point counterproductive.

Because we need these workers at a time where many sectors of our economy are tensions of recruitment. In this sense, because it would foster the bottlenecks, a closure would harm the development of industries vital to the overall growth and therefore employment. And shows those of our neighbours who have opened their markets since 2004: openness is positive. Nationals of the new EU member countries coming to fill job still not satisfied will participate to the development of economic activity and the acceleration of growth.

In addition, we need to hear a message of European solidarity in the new Member States. A number of these countries members of the Visegrad Group come, by the voice of the Hungary, to launch a strong appeal at the opening. Can you respond by denial and a denial of Europe Such a gesture would also not without consequences for the export of our products and services and for our own enterprises in the market of these new States. It makes sense to use the transition phase to prepare for the opening European nationals to the labour market French, opening taking place, in any case, in a few years.

Professional organizations of employers and trade unions that I have seen March 3 is there are not deceived when they supported the opening. It is the same sentiment expressed by parliamentarians of the Senate and the National Assembly who have auditioned me a few weeks ago. Therefore, with Jean-Louis Borloo, we proposed to the Prime Minister of flexibilities to display a preferably Community principle for nationals of the new Member States. The decision of the Prime Minister to be lifted progressive and controlled the restrictions on the free movement of workers from eight countries of the Eastern Europe which have joined the Union in 2004 is therefore in priority for trades experiencing tensions of recruitment which the list has been established in consultation with the social partners. For these trades, work permit will persist, but will be simplified.

This opening is not creating the fear: it will affect our jobs or our working conditions. On the contrary, it will serve to advance social progress.

A market open to the dimension of the Union must be accompanied by the affirmation of a European social order. The principle of harmonization in the social progress will not disappear behind that of the freedom of the market. Openness to European workers will be on French law employment contracts. In addition, the development of a basement of European social standards, including on the protection of health and safety at work or working time, should offer to any employee of the Union a decent minimum protection. These guarantees we create law, we must promote them in practice. To do this, I would like to develop agreements of cooperation with our European partners against any infringement the social rules.

This Europe is ours. The referendum debate has shown the need for involvement and ownership by the whole of the French to European and international debate and their willingness to give a social dimension to globalization. This is the meaning of my European commitment.