EUROLAND/ROMANIA: As Own Governments Ignore Them, Roma Test EU Borders...And Nerves.

NYTIMES/ SUZANNE DALEY :    "Migration within the 27 nations of the European Union has become a combustible issue during the economic downturn. The union’s latest expansion, which brought in the relatively poor nations of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007, has renewed concern that the poor, traveling far from home in search of work, will become a burden on wealthier countries. The migration of the Roma is also raising questions about the obligations of Romania and Bulgaria to fulfill promises they made when they joined the union. Romania, for instance, mapped out a strategy for helping the Roma, but financed little of it. Mr. Sarkozy has demanded that the Romanian government do more to aid the Roma at home."

AND: “There is nothing to focus the minds of policy makers like an army of poor people heading your way,” said Bernard Rorke, the director of Roma Initiatives for the nonprofit Open Society Foundation.

For a report on Roma living and working conditions in Romania, SEE:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/17/roma-france-dreams-better-life

BRASIL/BULGARIA: Sofia Catches "Dilma Fever."

M.PRESS/     Who knew? Dilma Rousseff  is of Bulgarian descent. The Bulgarians know and they have caught "Dilma fever." “If Kenya celebrated the victory of Barak Obama, whose father came from that African country, Bulgaria is ready to celebrate ‘Dilma’ of Bulgarian descent”, declared Folha de S. Paulo.
“We’re a very small country and the possibility that someone whose father was Bulgarian could occupy such an important job really gets hold of us”, said Sofia TV reporter Jorge Nalbantov.

BULGARIA: Economist Edward Hugh Analysis.

easterneuropeeconomyblogspot/    This blog doesn't normally cover Bulgaria because keeping-up with about 25 other countries is more than enough work...but we do try to feature Brit Edward Hugh's always thorough analyses. The Barcelona based, virtually self-taught economist does his thing here...on Bulgaria's economy. Beware: heavy slogging, full of charts and graphs.
HUGH: "...the question as to whether potential output growth in Bulgaria in the years to come is going to be markedly lower than it was during the boom years. As the IMF point out, the current recession was preceded by an investment boom in construction, real estate and the associated financial sectors. Now that the boom (which was always unsustainable, Bulgaria's current account deficit in 2007 hit almost 27% of GDP) is well and truly over in these sectors, the strong associated decline in investment could have large negative effects on output. Moreover, it will take considerable time before the excess labor and resources that are no longer needed in these sectors can be absorbed by other sectors, which suggests that the rate of unemployment may rise yet further and remain higher for some considerable time. Not a uniquely Bulgarian story, but none the less important for that."

Bulgaria Approves Plan To Balance Budget.

BLOOMBERG/
The anti-crisis plan targets balancing this year’s budget through a 15 percent cut in administration costs, higher revenue by curbing contraband and setting up a nationwide jobs database.
“My top priority is achieving a balanced budget in 2009,”Finance Minister Simeon Djankov said.

EU Says Romania And Bulgaria Plagued By Problems.

From the NYTimes.

"Bulgaria and Romania are still plagued by widespread fraud, corruption and organized crime."

Selling Their Vote For a Bag Of Sugar...In Bulgaria.