Romanians Victims of Rising European Nationalism

Romanians are victims of rising nationalism in some European countries, especially after the opening of the labor market in Britain and Germany, President Traian Basescu warned Wednesday.

"Romania wishes to contribute to the development of the European Union but Romanian citizens have become victims of nationalist movements in some Member States," Basescu told the diplomatic corps.

He warned against a surge of "nationalist and ultra-nationalist parties in the next European elections" against the background of high unemployment and sluggish growth in some EU countries.

"These nationalist groups have already managed to stir up inappropriate attitudes towards Romanian and Bulgarian citizens," Basescu added.

The migration issue heated up ahead of January 1 when Bulgarians and Romanians were granted full rights to work in nine EU countries, including Britain and Germany, which were still imposing restrictions.

They had been free to work in the rest of Europe for years.

Right-wing parties like the UK Independence Party and the conservative CSU in Germany have raised fears of an "invasion" of Bulgarians and Romanians, accusing them of "benefit tourism".

However, recent studies by the European Union and a Swedish economist argue that Bulgarian and Romanian migrants contribute more than they cost to Western European economies.

"My findings clearly show that the fears that are currently expressed in other European countries of unrestricted immigration from Romania and Bulgaria imposing a heavy burden on the welfare state are unfounded," Swedish economist Joakim Ruist said Tuesday.

About three million Romanians and one million Bulgarians have emigrated, not just to the EU, in search of a better life since the fall of communism over two decades ago.

Among them are tens of thousands of doctors and engineers.

"Since 1990, over 21,000 Romanian doctors have gone abroad to work," Vasile Astarastoae, president of the Romanian College of Physicians, told AFP.

Some 4,500 currently work in Britain, another 4,300 in France and a further 2,000 in Germany.