Ascultă Radio România Actualitaţi Live

Invasion Postponed

There was no inflow of immigrants in the airports, railway stations or bus terminals in the countries that lifted the labour restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian workers.

Invasion Postponed
Heathrow Airport. Foto: rri.ro

Articol de Radio România Internaţional, 05 Ianuarie 2014, 15:42

The feared invasion of Romanians and Bulgarians after the full lifting of labour restrictions in the EU as of January 1st, 2014, has not happened, or at least not yet.

The last countries that kept these constraints in place were Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, the UK, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands.

Some of the most concerned with this measure were the Britons, after the media and politicians created an anxiety as regards the inflow of immigrants willing to take advantage of the generous British social assistance services.

Right-wing journalists waited at Luton Airport for millions of unemployed Romanians, but were surprised to find that only a few Romanians were coming back to work in the UK.

The Ambassador of Romania to London, Ion Jinga, likened the journalists who were waiting for “waves of Romanian immigrants” to the tragic-comical characters in Samuel Becket’s “Waiting for Godot,” writes The Guardian.

In Bucharest, the Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations in the British media regarding an invasion of immigrants.

Spokesperson Brandusa Predescu said Britain is not and will not be a destination of choice for Romanians.

She even talked about an open campaign against Romanians and Bulgarians, and said some stories in the British media are bordering on racism.

The free movement of labour is a basic principle of the European Union and a key element of the Single Market, says the Romanian Foreign Ministry, which shares the European Commission’s view, expressed by EU Commissioner for Employment, Laszlo Andor, that the movement of mobile workers, EU citizens, actually has positive effects on the Single Market and contributes to the European integration process.

Laszlo Andor also expressed his confidence that facilitating freedom of movement may help curb unemployment and reduce the gaps between various EU member states.

Another advantage of the full opening of the labour market for Romanians and Bulgarians is the transfer of know-how and professionalism, believes the Romanian Ambassador to Paris, Bogdan Mazuru.

In an interview to the French television station BFM, he mentioned the large number of Romanian healthcare professionals employed in France.

He also estimated that there will not be a wave of Romanian workers, because those who sought employment in that country are already working there.

Romanian heroes fallen in service commemorated in Oarba de Mures
News in English 23 Aprilie 2025, 22:47

Romanian heroes fallen in service commemorated in Oarba de Mures

Romanian heroes who fell on the Western Front were commemorated on Wednesday in Oarba de Mures, 80 years after the end of...

Romanian heroes fallen in service commemorated in Oarba de Mures
Bucharest citizens will be able to apply for an electronic ID card
News in English 23 Aprilie 2025, 22:46

Bucharest citizens will be able to apply for an electronic ID card

Bucharest residents can start applying for an electronic ID card from Thursday. Appointments can only be made online, and the...

Bucharest citizens will be able to apply for an electronic ID card
IMF cuts its growth estimates for the Romanian economy
News in English 22 Aprilie 2025, 23:15

IMF cuts its growth estimates for the Romanian economy

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its growth forecast for the Romanian economy this year to 1.6%, down from 3.3% in...

IMF cuts its growth estimates for the Romanian economy
EC: TikTok has made extra preparations to better manage the May elections
News in English 22 Aprilie 2025, 23:14

EC: TikTok has made extra preparations to better manage the May elections

The European Commission is continuing to work with the online platform TikTok to ensure that there will be no breaches of EU...

EC: TikTok has made extra preparations to better manage the May elections
The fire in Arges "could not have started by natural causes"
News in English 21 Aprilie 2025, 19:01

The fire in Arges "could not have started by natural causes"

The IGAV's two Black Hawk helicopters withdrew last night after dropping 240 tons of water, a vital aid because the...

The fire in Arges "could not have started by natural causes"
Financing guide under the "Rabla for tractors" program published
News in English 21 Aprilie 2025, 19:00

Financing guide under the "Rabla for tractors" program published

This week, another necessary step of the "Rabla for tractors" program was completed - the publication of the...

Financing guide under the "Rabla for tractors" program published
A new multinational exercise on Romanian territory
News in English 17 Aprilie 2025, 21:30

A new multinational exercise on Romanian territory

Around 4.000 soldiers, with over 900 technical means, from 10 allied countries will take part next month in a new...

A new multinational exercise on Romanian territory
The National Audiovisual Council has removed several videos posted online
News in English 17 Aprilie 2025, 21:29

The National Audiovisual Council has removed several videos posted online

The National Audiovisual Council has removed in recent days a number of illegal online materials from TikTok, Facebook and X....

The National Audiovisual Council has removed several videos posted online