The transitional arrangements on the free movement of workers from Romania and Bulgaria came to an end on 1 January 2014, lifting all potential restrictions in their access to the labour market in the EU. While all Member States are bound by the obligations laid down in Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States, several obstacles remain to ensure and guarantee the effective application the fundamental freedom of movement for all EU citizens. Over the past months, several cases of limitations in access to public and private services for non-national residents in Member States have arisen. A concrete example is the reported instances of Bulgarian and Romanian workers being unable to open bank accounts in Germany and the Netherlands, a process that very often is a prerequisite to conclude an employment contract.

1.Is the Commission aware of current cases of limitations in access to services for Bulgarian and Romanian workers established in other Member States?

2.What instruments are currently in place to monitor and address such obstacles?

2.What action is the Commission currently considering taking to ensure effective application of freedom of movement for all EU citizens, and to lift any unjustified barriers in access to the labour market in the EU?