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Labour Ministry: Brexit has no immediate impact on Romanians in UK
The exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union will not have an immediate impact for Romanians already working in Britain, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Elderly answered on Thursday an inquiry of Agerpres on the consequences of Brexit.
"On the long run, however, the free circulation of individuals, goods and services depends on the negotiation of terms between the United Kingdom and the European Union, a process to start, as we mentioned, after the UK submits its official request to leave the EU. Nevertheless, as there is no precedent for the negotiation of the withdrawal of a member state from the EU, we think the medium and long-term effects cannot be evaluated and anticipated right now," the ministry's answer reads.
According to the ministry, British official statistics mentioned on 27 August 2015 that 170,000 Romanian citizens were residents of the UK in December 2014, 130,000 in December 2013, 101,000 in December 2012, and 94,000 in December 2011. The same source revealed that 65,000 Romanians and Bulgarians entered the UK in 2015, which was 16,000 more than in 2014, while 7,000 citizens of the two countries left (2,000 more than over the previous year). Out of the newly arrived citizens of Romania and Bulgaria in 2015, 52,000 went to the UK for work — 17,000 more than in 2014.
Statistical data also showed 232,000 Romanians and Bulgarians employed in Britain in the first quarter 2016, as compared to 186,000 in Q1 2014, and on a quarterly advance by 17,000.
The latest statistics, released on 19 May for Q1 2016, showed 175,000 Romanians working in the UK, or 30,000 more than in 2014.