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| Romanians in UK feel pressure of negative immigration publicity | Romanians in UK feel pressure of negative immigration publicity |
| (2 months later) | |
| You can never explain the horror of becoming a target for the national press. It goes without saying that it is bad, but how to convey the enormity? | You can never explain the horror of becoming a target for the national press. It goes without saying that it is bad, but how to convey the enormity? |
| And if that is true for individuals, imagine what it is like for an entire group recast as the all-new whipping boy. At the Romanian Cultural Centre in the heart of central London, there is an elegant tranquillity. Still, the pressure is on. That is how it feels. | And if that is true for individuals, imagine what it is like for an entire group recast as the all-new whipping boy. At the Romanian Cultural Centre in the heart of central London, there is an elegant tranquillity. Still, the pressure is on. That is how it feels. |
| Have you seen the headlines, I ask businessman and philanthropist Nicolae Ratiu as we chat while overlooking a leafy square. I give him the gist. | Have you seen the headlines, I ask businessman and philanthropist Nicolae Ratiu as we chat while overlooking a leafy square. I give him the gist. |
| "Thousands of Bulgarians and Romanians plan to flood UK in 2014 as employment restrictions relax." "Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria: government accused of 'farcical' strategy." "Bordering on farcical: plan to deter eastern European immigrants with negative ads 'could backfire'." | "Thousands of Bulgarians and Romanians plan to flood UK in 2014 as employment restrictions relax." "Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria: government accused of 'farcical' strategy." "Bordering on farcical: plan to deter eastern European immigrants with negative ads 'could backfire'." |
| He smiles a weary smile. "It's bad. But we have seen this before. Romania joined the EU on 1 Jan 2007 and then we were told that hundreds of thousands of Romanians would come. They didn't." | He smiles a weary smile. "It's bad. But we have seen this before. Romania joined the EU on 1 Jan 2007 and then we were told that hundreds of thousands of Romanians would come. They didn't." |
| But what about now, when controls are lifted and, as EU citizens, they will have more rights? "Romanians, as a first choice, don't come here," counters Ratiu. "It's easier to go to Italy and Spain. In a month a Romanian can speak Italian and Spanish and Portuguese. It's easier to learn those languages. Language makes a big difference. We are closer in terms of history and culture to the Latin countries. More people choose to go to France than the UK. A lot will choose Austria and Germany." | But what about now, when controls are lifted and, as EU citizens, they will have more rights? "Romanians, as a first choice, don't come here," counters Ratiu. "It's easier to go to Italy and Spain. In a month a Romanian can speak Italian and Spanish and Portuguese. It's easier to learn those languages. Language makes a big difference. We are closer in terms of history and culture to the Latin countries. More people choose to go to France than the UK. A lot will choose Austria and Germany." |
| That's not how it looks in the media and at Westminster. What are you going to do? Batten down the hatches and wait for it to blow over, he says. And talk to people. "We have a role in righting the imbalance with facts." | That's not how it looks in the media and at Westminster. What are you going to do? Batten down the hatches and wait for it to blow over, he says. And talk to people. "We have a role in righting the imbalance with facts." |
| Carmen Campeanu is 25 and of a different generation. She organises events for the centre, promoting cohesion among Romanians in the UK. In 2009, there were estimated to be 58,000. The new census records 79,687 in England and Wales. She's worried about the negative publicity; insulted by the ads the government may run telling Romanians to stay away because Britain is wet and cold. And crucially, she's convinced that many who come will go home again. | Carmen Campeanu is 25 and of a different generation. She organises events for the centre, promoting cohesion among Romanians in the UK. In 2009, there were estimated to be 58,000. The new census records 79,687 in England and Wales. She's worried about the negative publicity; insulted by the ads the government may run telling Romanians to stay away because Britain is wet and cold. And crucially, she's convinced that many who come will go home again. |
| She's betting that logic and tolerance will win through. It probably will. In the meantime, she'll avoid the Daily Mail. | She's betting that logic and tolerance will win through. It probably will. In the meantime, she'll avoid the Daily Mail. |
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