Financial Times FT.com

Invasion of benefit tourists from EU's east fails to materialise

By Nicholas George, Mark Mulligan, George Parker and Hugh Williamson

Published: April 28 2005 03:00 | Last updated: April 28 2005 03:00

On May 1 last year the barriers went up around western Europe to hold back a predicted tide of migrant workers from the east, as 10 new members joined the European Union.

Twelve western European countries imposed work restrictions; only Britain, Ireland and Sweden kept the doors open. A year later what has happened to the predicted "invasion" and the hordes of "benefit tourists" planning to sign on for welfare?

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