The chapter Freedom of Movement for Workers is important because it concerns one of the basic freedoms on which the internal market of the European Community was founded, but also because old EU member states have introduced for new members from Central and East Europe transitional periods to protect their labour markets from an excessive influx of labour from abroad.
"The Committee supported the negotiating position (on Freedom of Movement for Workers) offered by the negotiating team, with a note that the negotiating team should keep the Committee informed in detail about the course of negotiations on that chapter, considering the fact that EU countries have introduced transitional periods for new members from Central and East Europe in that area," said the leader of the Social Democrats.
Asked if Croatia would reciprocate if EU countries introduced restrictions also in Croatia's case, Milanovic said that Croatia would know how to protect its interests.
He added that Croatia did not set any special conditions in its negotiating position on that chapter.
The National Committee also supported the negotiating position on the chapter Energy and took note of a report on screening for the chapter Foreign, Security and Defence Policy.
Milanovic said that the Committee would hold its next session on July 19, when it was expected to discuss negotiating positions for two more chapters.