Our regular round-up reveals changes in residence rules in Belgium and the merger of French public employment service organisations.

Belgium: New residence rules for EU nationals
New residence rules have entered into force in Belgium for citizens of other EU countries. Although it will no longer be necessary to obtain a formal residence permit when staying in the country for long periods, individuals must register their presence at their local municipality within ten days of their arrival and make a declaration of registration after three months. This may be submitted electronically over the internet, but it will trigger a visit by the police to inspect and approve the person's residence, ensure that their name is on the door of the address notified to the commune and confirm their employment status.

Family reunification rules have also changed to make it easier for relatives to join an EU citizen who is an established Belgian resident. Family members may now take up residence in Belgium on similar terms to the first resident, but will receive a special interim card (attestation d'immatriculation) for the first five months of their stay.

France
On January 1st 2009 the two French public employment service organisations ANPE and UNEDIC will merge to become 'France Emploi'. The new organisation will have 45,000 staff and be funded by social security contributions paid by employers and employees to the URSSAF agencies (and from 2012, to a centralised agency, ACOSS). In addition to providing a full recruitment service, France Emploi will also administer the payment of unemployment benefits and other welfare benefits.

Europe
Relaxation of work and travel rules Later this year, the French labour market is likely to be opened up to workers from eight of the ten countries that joined the EU on May 1st 2004 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia). This is well ahead of the May 1st 2009 deadline for labour market liberalisation.

The European Commission has begun talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, paving the way for visa-free travel between Bosnia Herzegovina and EU member states. The relaxation of borders between Finland and the Russian Federation is also in prospect. Finland's new minister for foreign affairs, Alexander Stubb, has proposed that visa- free travel should be introduced. However, such a move would require more personnel at border crossings, improvements in immigration technology and the standardisation of travel documents.

Copyright: FedEE Services Ltd 2008