GERMANY: chancellor Angela Merkel praises Romania's "huge efforts" to become EU member, says Germany will continue to watch progress closely.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has praised Romania's "huge efforts" after a meeting with the country's prime minister in Berlin on Thursday (November 2). Speaking after her talks with Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, Merkel told reporters they discussed "Romania's huge efforts to fulfil the conditions for membership in the European Union." But Merkel added Germany "will closely observe those issues which still need improvement," saying, "I was delighted to hear that the Romanian government has stressed again that all necessary efforts in the fields of interior and justice will be made to function as a member of the European Union." Asked by a Romanian reporter what job opportunities for Romanians wishing to come to Germany might look like from January 1, Merkel replied: "The question was whether labourers may have the freedom of movement from January 1. That will not be the case." "However, this is not a Romania-specific issue but rather, we did the same thing with the ten new members such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and so on." "So this is the procedure we practice in Germany -- which we must practice in light of our own job market," Merkel said. Latest unemployment figures for Germany, released on Thursday, showed the unemployment rate in October was 10.4 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis and 9.8 percent on an unadjusted basis, falling below the psychologically-important 10 percent barrier for the first time since November 2002. Romania, along with Bulgaria, will become members of the European Union on January 1, 2007.

ITN Source | November 3, 2006

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