Cyprus planned to keep the its labour market open for Bulgarian and Romanian workers, after the two countries entered the EU on January 1 2007.

Cyprian labour minister Antonis Vassiliou announced the cabinet decision.

Still, Cyprian authorities would keep on detaining, imprisoning and expelling from the country illegal Bulgarian and Romanian workers, Politis daily said.

The Bulgarian and Romanian embassies were worried by the 'illogical' behaviour of the Cyprian authorities, Politis said.

These measures are pointless as Bulgarians and Romanians will have the right to return legally in the country after January 1 2007.

The decision was for Cyprian authorities to avoid arresting Bulgarians and Romanians, Politis said. But some Cyprian institutions seemed to function independently, carrying out their own policy.

Only five EU countries among which Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia said that they would open their labour markets for Bulgarians and Romanians. Other 18 EU members said that they would limit the access of Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers.