Missing Sarmale

Swan Lake

Predictibly, Brussels said yes. Yesterday in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the European Commission presented its praise and welcome wishes for Romania and Bulgaria, ready to join Jaunary 1st.

I'm not sure if you ever had the chance to watch a parliamentary debate, whatever the circumstances. It is not exactly one of my hobbies, but evey now and then, there is no better entertainment programme. I watched live on the internet how MEPs can actually be real poets. After the Commission presented its opinion, political groups could present theirs. Socilaists pronounced very touchingly a Romanian proverb, "unde-s doi, puterea creste" (where there are two, the strength grows) to suggest that the more EU members, the stronger the Union.

But the best part I found in the liberals: their political group leader compared the two European integration ministers (Ro & Bg) with swans that glide gracefully on the water while they paddle with all their strength under the water. I know you may not find this funny, but in the context, it is absolutely hilarious; almost as good as watching images from national parliaments where MPs sleep with their mouth open or, pardon me, pick their noses.


I found once a really clear remark that can apply to how things will change for Romanians on January 1st. A Polish woman, having been asked the same question on the immediate impact of Polish accession, said that the only thing she noticed was that at the airport, you have to go to the "EU" passport control booth. The trouble is now, that the "non-EU" booths were so free after the 10 new states joined, so it was quite an advantage. Now we'll have to queue in with the rest of the crowd.

The big difference between the "old" Europe and the "new" Europe, is that the "new" people can better appreciate what they have, since they know the other side of the coin too. While old lazy Europeans only know how to complain :-)

posted by Dana @ 5:03 pm