Romania and Bulgaria join the EU club today

[kwicky]

Is this a good deal? For the Russians they no longer need to subsidise the cost of gas so they can charge european prices. For Romania and Bulgaria both have low living standards so they will be entitled to massive handouts from the EU. For countries within the EU such as Britain there is talk of mass immigration and the threat to our jobs.
Do you think that the politicians in the UK put Britain first by exiting from the EU and repealing that senseless Human Rights legislation?

[vehelpfulguy]

The UK gains nothing from these countries joining the EU.

The negatives are that we (the UK) have to pay money to them and get nothing in return.

That "cheap labour" comes over here.

That organised crime from another two countires can come to the UK to rip us off.

That more businesses will move from the UK to go to Romania and Bulgaria.

It is almost like leaving your front door open to allow all the local burglers to come in and help themselves.

[anotheoldgit]

Whenever we ask for anything to improve our lifestyle here in the UK the Politicians forever tell us they can't afford it, and yet when it comes to accepting these poorer countries into the EU, donating large sums of money in overseas aid or funding wars that we should not be taking part in, then money is no object.

What's going off? Why can't our elected servants also see that all this money could be used to make this country a better place to live? Or is there some hidden agenda that we know nothing about? And are they getting something out of it? because we're certainly not.

[kwicky]

I see Margaret Beckett is putting the spin into it. She says it will benefit Britain as the lower labour costs will help our farmers. They will also do work that our workers do not want to do.
I remember a similar argument some years ago when they allowed West Indian immigrants to settle here in their thousands to man the buses. Their offspring could not get work and which resulted in a drugs epidemic and more crime.

[ThisSpace]

I think this situation is going to get worse, if I am honest!

The BBC News tonight pointed out that although residents of Romania and Bulgaria would have to "prove" themselves when they arrive in the UK, this does not apply for the self employed, presuming now they'll all come over and claim they're decorators etc?!

Also, it was quoted that as members of the EU, the new members would be able to come to the UK for three months anyway, on a holiday visa. On talking of the black economy, when these visitors slip away into oblivion after three months, it was said that people found overstaying their visas would be liable for a fine of �1000. Where the hell would they get this money from?

I don't see how this is going to work. How many of these people woke up this morning and thought "let's take our horse and cart, and head west"?!!

[anotheoldgit]

I heard on the news that all flights out of Romania & Bulgaria bound for the UK were fully booked.
Regarding Margaret Beckett's statement that lower labour costs will help our farmers. Does that mean that a certain Lord who is a major contributor to the Labour Party, will now be able to buy even cheaper from the farmers, to sell at an even more profitable mark-up.

[ThisSpace]

But then I read in a newspaper today that just five people arrived into Britain yesterday from these countries, entering as new EU citizens.

I think the best thing now is just not to care what stupid thing the UK does next.