Many eastern Europeans, such as the Romanians and Bulgarians who work on Spain's farms and as domestic servants, prefer to work in the black economy, the Financial Times reported.

According to cited official estimates the number of foreigners in Spain is 4m, or 9 per cent of the total population, compared with almost no foreigners 10 years ago.

The government recently offered a virtual amnesty to encourage registration by those in work.

According to European Commission figures 10 years after Spanish accession to the EU in 1986 there were 100,000 fewer Spaniards living in other member states. It predicts a similar reverse migration by citizens of the new member states, as they grow wealthier, along with an increase in eastward migration from "old" Europe.

The Financial Times points out that an "invasion" of westerners may already be under way due to the rising property prices on the Black Sea coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, due to join the EU in 2007.

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