Italy does not plan to impose restrictions to Romanian workers

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano gave assurance that the Italian authorities do not plan to impose any type of restriction to Romanian workers, but it is natural for an economy that does not increase enough to provide fewer jobs, including for immigrants.

The Italian President is in Romania on a state visit at the invitation of President Traian Băsescu and the situation of the Romanian community in Italy was included on the discussion agenda of the two leaders.

President Traian Băsescu thanked his Italian counterpart, Giorgio Napolitano, for the way that the Italian Government are trying to solve the problem of the immigrants, but also for the recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Italy.

"Thank you for the way in which the Government and the local authorities in Italy are trying to solve the problem of the Romanian immigrants. Thank you for the recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Italy", President Băsescu said.

President Giorgio Napolitano said that Italy does not plan to take restrictive measures against the Romanian workers in the Peninsula, but he stressed that it is normal for an economy that does not increase enough to provide fewer jobs, including for immigrants.

"An economy that does not increase enough offers fewer work opportunities, including for immigrants, and this is an issue we all certainly understand, but we do not plan to take any type of restrictive measure against the Romanian workers."

"Therefore, I repeat, nothing that could resemble, not even with a hypothesis of restrictive measures against the Romanian workers that are already legally working in Italy", the Italian President said on a visit to Romania.

Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University