Local Authorities Fear Romanian, Bulgarian Influx
THE HAGUE, 25/09/13 - Local authorities and public representatives fear negative consequences from an influx of Bulgarian and Romanians, according to a survey by NU.nl carried out by Overheid in Nederland (Government in the Netherlands) among local council members, aldermen, provincial council members and mayors.
Among the 1,733 respondents, 58 percent expect employment for the present residents will decline if the borders are opened to the two East European countries on 1 January. Some 53 percent of the administrators and public representatives are negative on the location of Romanian and Bulgarian labour migrants in their region, and only 17 percent positive. Fifty-two percent fear that the advent of the Romanians and Bulgarians will have a negative effect on liveableness in the neighbourhoods. Only 4 percent think this will turn out positively, while the rest are neutral or have no opinion. Only 24 percent expect regional companies to benefit from the spending of he new residents. Respondents are also only moderately optimistic on the maintenance and development of business sectors in which the present residents are conspicuous for their absence, such as agriculture and horticulture; 44 percent believe that the inflow from the East European countries will turn out positively here. Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher said in a reaction he understands the concerns. He says he will therefore introduce a number of measures to guide the arrival of Bulgarians and Romanians onto the right tracks. "Among other things, there will be a study of squeezing-out on the labour market, I have made agreements with my Bulgarian and Romanian colleagues, and fake constructions and mala fide employers will be tackled forcefully by the Inspectorate service (SZW),” the minister said. |