Bulgaria and Romania’s EU entry, which became fact on January 1 2007, is going to affect the lives of people in the two countries, though the process is gradual.

Immediate measure of integration effects was impossible, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported quoting political scientists and economists.

Romanian analysts said that EU entry was going to guarantee the continuation of reforms on the way to democracy and market economy.

People could not expect immediate increase of salaries, which in the two countries varied on the average between 200 and 230 euro, economists said. A number of less competitive businesses are also going to suffer.

Such developments were positive in the long term, as they strengthened the economy, AFP reported.

To make EU entry benefits noticeable, officials in the two countries will have to strengthen social protection measures. These should target pensioners and minority groups, Romanian labour union representatives said.

The two governments should also focus on environment protection and decreasing industrial pollution. Such measures were not going to affect economic growth negatively, economists said.

Photo courtesy of European Community, 2006