Romanians Eye Unrestricted Access To The EU In 2014

Romania, as well as Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, three years after their central European neighbours, and millions of their citizens have already left to work in countries such as Italy and Spain, which have been easing restrictions since 2009.On Jan 1, 2014, transitional restrictions on access to the UK's labour market will expire, paving the way for full access to one of Europe's most popular migration destinations.

At the beginning of the year, the British right-leaning press had warned that "hordes" would pour in from Bulgaria and Romania.

One lobby group said it thought 50,000 Bulgarians or Romanians would enter every year for the first five years.

But for the Communication Director at Novapolis, a non-governmental organisation which works in the areas of immigration and integration of foreigners in Romania, as well as labour migration and European workforce mobility, these figures were unrealistic.

"It is understandable why the public opinion in Great Britain is under a feeling of fear regarding Romanian and Bulgarian workers coming there after January 1, 2014. But I think this fear is without real basis. Studies are showing, or predict, that this fear has no real basis in reality," said Narcisa Alexe.

Alexe said some job sectors would not be affected significantly by the new EU work laws.

"We predict that it will be a very low increase of migration from the medical, IT and technical highly professional sectors. The same is also possible for hotels and the services sectors. For the agricultural sector we think there will be no major changes," Alexe added.

Earlier in February, Romania's Gandul newspaper ran a series of spoof adverts saying Britons would be welcome to come and sample better food and cheaper beer, and noting that Prince Charles owns property in Transylvania.

"We may not like Britain, but you will love Romania," one of the adverts said. "Why don't you come over?"

But for some, the prospect of moving elsewhere to seek work and study opportunities, when curbs on their freedom of movement end on January 1, was quite appealing.

"If I would have the possibility to leave, I would do it with the idea to create a stable future for myself. And also to enjoy life in general. There is a big difference between the mentality in the West and in the East. And this is an advantage," said Bogdan fromBucharest.

Cozmina, also from Bucharest, said she was eyeing France, and maybe Holland as possible destinations.

"I would leave for France. Since I was a little girl I've studied French language and culture and I like it a lot. They are a civilized nation. Unfortunately, they do not like us that much. I'm curious, to see how life is there. I am also interested in Holland," Cozmina said.

But not everyone was ready to leave Romania despite the ongoing economic crisis in the country.

"For the moment I have a good job here. I'm trying to improve my skills. I hope this crisis will end soon, even if no one is giving us any hope that this will happen. This is, I think, the reason why people are leaving. If no one gives you hope that it will be better, automatically you will try to find this somewhere else. So, I hope it will be better. If not, I will also start thinking about leaving. But at the moment, I don't want to do that," saidAlexandro.

On Thursday (December 19) European officials said to be confident they had averted a damaging clash among EU leaders over migration at a summit this week, but public fears of an influx into western and southern Europe will loom large over European elections next year.

By agreeing tougher rules on the temporary posting of workers from poorer countries in central and eastern Europe to wealthier western areas, EU labour ministers last week defused an explosive debate fuelling anti-European populist parties.