Germany joins UK in fear of Romanian, Bulgarian flood
German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich called on Bulgaria and Romania on Monday to take measures to tackle emigration to wealthier member states of the European Union, including Germany. The announcement plays into a current of fear that has seized some of the EU’s older member states as calendars approach 1 January 2014, when the last of the restrictions on the free movement of Romanians and Bulgarians in the European labour market are lifted.
Prime among the recalcitrant countries is the United Kingdom, whose ruling Conservative Party is touting curbing immigration numbers as a priority.
Where the UK speaks of a fight against “welfare tourism”, the preferred term in Germany seems to be “poverty immigration”, with similar implications.
