Kavan: Czechs still utterly opposed to free movement transition period

The Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Kavan, has reiterated his country's opposition to a transition period for the free movement of labour following enlargement of the European Union. Mr Kavan was speaking at an EU conference in the Swedish town of Nykoping, where the EU rejected calls by Austria and Germany for a transition period to protect their labour markets. The two countries want citizens of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and other EU candidates to be banned from working freely in the EU for up to seven years after the countries join the Union. Mr Kavan warned any transition period could have a negative psychological impact on the Czech people, and could sink a referendum on EU membership.