Sat, Jul 04 2009
Thousands of Roma from Bulgaria and Romania have sought sanctuary in Spain, Spanish social services said.
Aiming to escape poverty, the people have chosen large cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Seville, Spanish information agency EFE said.
They settle in deserted buildings or form camps on the outskirts of the cities. Some of the people live in the streets.
EFE quoted a Bulgarian of Roma origin as saying that life was difficult, because the emigrants lacked a home and work.
Up to now, the Bulgarian and Romanian Roma emigrants had been unaffected by the law, regardless of daily police patrolling, EFE said.
Unemployment in euro area was 9.5 per cent in May 2009, new Eurostat figures say. Joblessness figures in all EU states are higher than a year ago.
Bulgarian customs have allegedly found a new source of additional income; demanding declarations that travellers are not infected with the swine flu virus.
Perhaps the fruit of having been satirised, Brussels sprouts a statement slicing out EU rules on the size and shape of fruit and veg.
Dealing with financial crisis, climate change, are priorities, says Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt as his country assumes the six-month rotating presidency of the EU on July 1 2009.
European Commission warns consumers to be ‘sun-smart’ this summer.