Slartibartfas

A few days ago the two countries Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU. Bulgaria, one of the poorest countries in Europe and Romania that is only slightly better off. Still I want to take the chance to welcome those 30 mio Europeans back home.

It will be a premier nonetheless. Never before, not even at the last huge enlargement, where the newly admitted members so much 2nd class than these two. Probably the EU learned from the last time, learned from what happened with Cyprus for example that lost any motivation to search for compromises, or other of the new member states that lost very fast the enthusiasm on the Roma and Sinti issue.

This will not happen this time. And if you want to know why, I can only recommend you this article:
Romania and Bulgaria: A Trial Period in the EU - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News


What do you think about that? Does it already get near to Romania and Bulgaria becoming EU colonies? Or is it just a fair an reasonable compromise also Romanians and Bulgarians can live with? Even the more as even they are welcoming that Brussles does not ease up on looking its governments on the fingers, especially regarding corruption and justice.

george.d

They do have some formidable challenges to face in their probationary periods. The aircraft, borders and livestock issues and closed labor markets do make them second class EU citizens. Aside from human rights representation, what do they gain with EU membership?

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These are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. ~Groucho Marx~

freedomfighter

It sounds reasonable that the EU would want to include countries like Bulgaria and Romania. On the other hand, those countries would have to build up qute a bit to rise to the level of the other EU nations.

Public_Enemy

I think they gain the right to struggle from inside instead of struggle from abroad... They will have vote in EU, and they will use it to ease those restrictions in critical politic bergains...

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george.d

Important point. What do the more mature EU members gain?

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These are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. ~Groucho Marx~

Slartibartfas

First of all economic uprise. The good economic developement in the last years was directly connected with the EU perspective.

Reforms. There is pressure on the leaders of both countries, considerable pressure. The fight against corruption and injustice would sleep pretty much away without this pressure. Even the Romanians and Bulgarians see this as one of the greatest pros of the admission.

The EU forces both countries to apply to its rules, not just kindly asks for please taking them into considerations as well. This will lead to a fast improvement of norms and laws reaching the European level. Whereas that will foster the economic success of those countries signficantly. And also improve the rights of the citizens.

And then last but not least. Simply: money. If Romania obeys to the rules, it will get large amounts of subsidies to improve their infrastructure, modernize their agriculture, update their industries, restorate their cities with the perspective of fostering tourism that can bring health especially in the poorest but most beautiful regions...

And then, they have of course seen what happened to Spain due to its EU admission. It was not really to Spains harm you know. So they even accept these harsh regulations, as the most important part is done now. They are in the EU now. If they keep themselves on track with the reforms, the 2nd class membership has to be resolved as time passes. Its not an "if" just a "when".
And if you take into considerations that both countries are not really ready to join the Union by now, its allready a present for them that they could so nonetheless.

Slartibartfas

New markets. Not to underestimate.
Furthermore is it of great advantage if the legal situation improves in Romania and Bulgaria and the standard of life. Especially the fight against the organized criminality will get more effective when both countries are in the EU and have to cooperate.

Slartibartfas

I have to admit I have not heard about that before I read this article. I am not sure what it exactly means, to be more exact, what "protective meassures" mean.

Should this be EU laws? Then its pretty teethless. (as those laws will not find a majority in the council most likely)
Or something else, of the nature of Commission decissions. But on which basis? On a vague formulation alone? Well, lets assume there is a legal basis, there still remains the fact that the EU commission is strong defender of the common market. And moreover that it dislikes national protectionism.

Further clarification might be interesting, although I have no idea who could clarify it. And it would not surprise me if the governments who brought in this clause themselves do not really know what it means exactly