Latvia joins the Eurozone, Bulgarians & Romanians can now work accross the EU

[Tender Branson]

Latvia has begun the new year by joining the eurozone, becoming the 18th member of the group of EU states which uses the euro as its currency.

The former Soviet republic on the Baltic Sea recently emerged from the financial crisis to become the EU's fastest-growing economy.

Correspondents report much scepticism in the country after recent bailouts for existing eurozone members.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25567096

Citizens of Romania and Bulgaria can work without restrictions across the European Union from Wednesday.

Transitional controls were imposed by some member states on nationals of the two countries - the poorest in the bloc - when they joined the EU in 2007.

Their rights to work and claim benefits were limited for their first seven years of EU membership.

Some in wealthier western EU nations fear mass migration from the two countries.

The controls were lifted as Greece took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25565302

[Silent Hunter]

And the right-wing UK press waits for an influx that may never turn up...

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

This may help them buy potato.

[Franknburger]

Bulgaria had a massive drop in birth rates after 1990, which means the age group you would expect to migrate just isn't there in large numbers. Not sure about Romania, but I guess its the same there (in almost all middle and eastern European countries, birth rates dropped strongly during the economic transformation crisis).

[You kip if you want to...]

I haven't been able to move today for all the Romanians and Bulgarians who flooded in overnight. We are full.