France will open partially its labour market for workers from Bulgaria and Romania, once the two countries join the EU on January 1 2007.

The same model like the one used after the EU enlargement in 2004 was going to be used for workers from the two countries, Dnevnik newspaper reported.

After a specified transition period the French government was going to move to progressive and controlled opening of the local labour market, minister delegate for European affairs Catherine Colonna said.

In May 2006, two years after the accession of 10 new union members, Paris enabled the free access of foreign workers to seven economic sectors, among which construction, agriculture and hospitality.

Using the same model, Bulgarian workers are expected to have free access to the French labour market in 2009.

Dnevnik reported that Italy might open its labour market if other union members decided to do so.

Italy and Spain are the two EU countries Bulgarian migrant workers prefer most. Madrid already said it was going to limit the free movement of Bulgarian and Romanian workers. The limitations would be valid for a period of two years, Dnevnik reported.