Italy will open partially its labour market for Bulgarians and Romanians after the two countries join the EU on January 1 2007.

The Italian labour market will be opened for Bulgarians and Romanians as it is for workers from other EU countries. Employment would be possible for highly qualified workers and in the sectors of agriculture, tourism and housekeeping, BGNES news agency reported.

Bulgarians and Romanians will also be allowed to work as seasonal workers, in construction and metallurgy.

Italian social solidarity minister Paolo Ferrero said that the measures would affect mostly Romanian workers who already work in Italy. Currently they were considered to be non-EU workers and were subjected to restrictive immigration regime.

More than 300 000 Romanians live in Italy and form the biggest foreign community in the country.

Out of all EU members only Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland announced that they will keep an open door policy for Bulgarian and Romanian workers.