The European leaders that attended the signing of Romania''s European Union Accession Treaty emphasised the historic dimension of the process.
After 50 years of communism and a tormenting 15-year wait, Romania and Bulgaria have made it to the gates of the EU. It was a festive day, with warnings mentioned only in passing.
Four hours before the signing of the treaty yesterday, students from the Academy for Economic Studies (ASE) in Bucharest appeared to be unconcerned with the events. However, their hopes are in fact much bolder than those of the business community and politicians.
"I want to make four to five thousand euros per month because after the signing of the accession treaty it will be possible to make a lot of money legally in Romania. I will stay in Romania because Romania will be the country where everything is possible, and anyway, whoever believes life out there, beyond the border, is wonderful is wrong," said Cristian Nicolae, a second year student of accounting.
For ASE students - tomorrow''s businessmen, economists and finance specialists - Romania''s joining the EU will mean a chance to make several thousand euros per month, the possibility to work in any EU country, and more scholarships and employment with European institutions.
Costin Dumitrescu, a third year student of Cybernetics, says he does not know what all the macroeconomic effects of accession will be, but will not accept anything less than 1,000 dollars per month after the first year of accession. "I heard that the President has gone to Luxembourg with a delegation of 30 people and that the EU accession treaty is being signed today (yesterday). What accession is exactly, I don''t know, but I don''t believe our lives will change any sooner than in five years. Anyway, I have two plans: I either find a job in this country that pays 1,000 dollars, something I believe is possible because people in the IT sector are well paid - or I leave. Canada is my dream, but if I don''t manage that then I will go to Spain, where I have some cousins. Switzerland would also be an option, but I''ve heard they''re very tough on Romanians over there: I have a friend who works there and they watch him closely, except when he goes to the bathroom," said Costin Dumitrescu.
Although not expecting much of a change in everyday life, he believes Romania stands to gain in terms of image. "I believe the main positive effect of signing the accession treaty will be that it will attract foreign investors. When investors see something that is different from what they are used to back home they get scared. Now, with the adoption of European standards, laws in Romania will be almost the same as their laws and they will be more confident as a result." To Costin, one of the problems associated with leaving is finding someone to spend his life with. "If I decide to leave, I will marry a Romanian girl and take her with me - or an Irish girl because they are also pretty, but I will have nothing else."
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
