British PM Tony Blair agrees with the accession of Romania and Bulgaria workers on British market once the two countries join the EU, British newspaper The Independent writes in its electronic issue on Wednesday. But Blair warned that restrictions may be introduced on the short-term, via a temporary system of working permits.
Blair is quoted as welcoming the economic benefits of immigration, as he said some 97% of immigrants who arrived in the UK over the past several years were working hard and only 3% bring children with them.
And he said he agreed with a statement by an organization of British trade unions earlier this week, in favor of higher protection for immigrant workers and a more liberal labor market in the European Union.
Still, the British PM argued that immigration must be kept under control and that means serious border checks, especially as the country fights global terrorism.
