EU says no sign Germany, Austria to ease job curbs

STOCKHOLM, April 20 - The European Commission said on Monday it had received no indication so far that Germany or Austria would ease labour restrictions on workers from the new member states in eastern Europe.

"There are still 10 days left to submit such a message," EU Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla said during a visit to the Swedish capital.

"But at the moment there are no signals that Austria or Germany will open their borders."

Germany and Austria are among the few European Union countries that have maintained job restrictions against citizens of the mostly ex-communist states that joined the bloc in 2004. The countries must decide in the coming days whether to renew the curbs.

While free movement of labour is one of the EU's key principles, under accession treaties old members of the bloc have limits on access to their job markets for seven years from the enlargement date.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht said last month he hoped Belgium would end its job curbs soon.

Germany and Austria have kept labour restrictions, which usually mean that a job seeker needs a work permit.