It is rewarding to see that the enlargement of the European Union is already paying dividends for new member states as well as our own country.

Two years since eight east European countries, and Malta and Cyprus, joined the EU the European Commission has released a report which details the economic benefits expansion has brought.

Britain’s decision to open its labour market to these new states was met with predictable tabloid scare stories promising waves of immigration but of course this has not been the case.

Instead we, along with Ireland and Sweden – the only other countries to lift labour restrictions – have reaped the benefits and have enjoyed a far stronger employment record than the countries yet to welcome workers from the east.

Many of the workers that have arrived in this country have been equipped with the skills to fill roles in which we have a shortage, an increase in tradesmen such as plumbers has proved particularly popular.

Encouraged by the success of the past two years Greece, Finland, Portugal and Spain have followed in our footsteps and will now drop their restrictions on workers from the east.

Germany, France, Italy and Austria remain reluctant to open up their labour markets but the commission’s report will hopefully begin convincing them of the positive aspects of doing so.

It was also pleasing to see that an EU success story was reported in our press. The Financial Times’ leader was particularly glowing in its coverage of the commission’s report while the Times stressed the importance of all EU nations accepting workers from the new member states.