One big issue in the relationship between Romania and the Western states is the migration of Romanians to the richest countries of the European Union. The debates are ongoing, especially because from January 1, 2014, Romanian citizens, like all EU citizens, will have the legal right to settle and work anywhere in the EU.

One of the most preoccupied nations seems to be Britain, where the authorities are trying to find or sometimes impose solutions for this matter, for the feared, real or imagined, effect Romanian immigration could have.

As a rational Romanian native I understand their point of view as I already wrote in my article Playing the Schengen game. But I’d like to comment further following Stuart Meikle's article for Romania-Insider.com, Romania and the UK: Migration, the big issue.

Stuart seems to have a good knowledge and understanding of the so called Romanian problem/affair. His references to the number of Romanians who work aboard and to the way in which Romanian people have had to endure the harshest of austerity measures, which “were unnecessary and poorly thought out.” This, he said, has led to the economic migration of at least 15 percent of the people.

As a result, I began to focus more on the social and economical results of this unprecedented emigration of my people. While questioning this concept, ironically, I found an important answer in what expressly many British people do here, in Romania.
Prince Charles’ love for Romania, particularly for Transylvania, had a positive impact on me from the outset. Following the news, I discovered much more. I found that the Prince’s activities here had awoken the interest of many British people in the beauties of Transylvania, its rich landscapes, the ancestral traditions and its clear, fresh mountain air.

Many British people began to associate more than Dracula with the country, seeing it not as a wasteland inhabited by vampires, on the contrary, a piece of earthy paradise. Beyond this emerging awareness of the historical region of Romania, there were the British people already in Romania, who began to be public spirited and set up NGOs and/or companies, which work not only for them, but for the benefit of Romanians citizens too.

I found that many of expats, mostly British, who live in Romania, have a good understanding of the main economical and social problems that Romania is confronting, but they also recognize the huge opportunities the country offers. Often we, the Romanians, don’t see these opportunities and consequently don’t know how to take advantage of them.

The British businesses and organizations in Romania strongly promote the concept of social responsibility and are frequently involved in areas such as social assistance, education, agriculture, the environment and the preservation of traditions.

Here are just a few example I found of British involvement in Romania, representing only a fraction of the total. Hospices of Hope,  The GSK Romania campaign to find solutions for the emigration of Romanian doctors, The social integration of Roma people, Donkey projects – helping kids with disabilities, British Council, Famelab project,
Mihai Eminescu Trust Foundation, The Whole village projects, Light into Europe, Transylvania Community Solutions.

So, from the British Embassy, the British Council and the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce to the companies and NGOs, British involvement in Romania seems to be very often directly concerned with improving the lives of Romanians. Creating good, healthy life and work circumstances for people, using the natural and/or traditional resources, increasing the educational level and offering a professional future to the next generation - in all these areas the British are supporting us, not only tackling causes of emigration, but also contributing to Romania's future as a nation in which in many ways, is rebuilding itself.

By Mariana Ganea, guest writer