Britain can be “rest assured” that Romanians will not rush to Britain when access restrictions are lifted at the end of the year, the country’s prime minister has said.
Victor Ponta said he was “rather perplexed” by the recent uproar regarding the “imminent Romanian invasion of the UK”.
The premier’s comments come after migration campaigners claimed that as many as 250,000 Romanians and Bulgarians are set to arrive in Britain.
Temporary curbs were imposed on both countries in 2005 to protect the British labour market, but they expire at the end of December and cannot be extended.
Mr Ponta said: “Our people are, by far, our most valuable, cherished and significant resource. And we will do our utmost to keep them in the country.
“For all the work that is to be done in this country we need every brain and every pair of hands available.
“This is why Britain can rest assured: Romania needs its workers. They will not rush to Britain come January 1 2014. They will be busy developing their own country.”
The UK Government has been accused of stoking fears by refusing to provide an estimate of the number of immigrants likely from Romania and Bulgaria.
Mr Ponta said he wants Romania to cease being an “emigration country” and has set in motion policies aimed at stimulating growth.
Unemployment is below the EU average and public sector wages have returned to their pre-austerity level, he said.
“If the immigration process continues, which is highly unlikely, it will definitely not focus on the UK,” he said.