Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

Over the course of the year, most articles on Romania’s
attempt to adopt the euro by 2015 referred to it as an undesirable
but necessary move. The main reason for the
adoption of the currency is further integration with the EU
community, and the change in status from a Member State
that is simply “helped along”. 87 While this is the argument
most publicised, there is an uncertainty about the adoption
of the euro, as it might be used only as a national fiscal instrument
during the upcoming presidential campaign. 88
Romania’s view of the EU in relation to availability and
use of EU funds has fluctuated greatly in 2011. Ambitiously,
Romanian EU officials planned twice the normal absorption
funds when compared to those received in the past
four years. They used the argument that Romania had the
lowest absorption rate in East and Central Europe. 89 However,
the plan was difficult to implement as the EU changed
Romania’s terms of repayment from 60 to 45 days. 90 In an
effort to appear more responsible, Romania imitated Bulgaria
when it was granted the capacity to have a Minister
for European Funds. 91 While EU officials were quoted to be
happy with this development, it is as of yet uncertain to
what extent such developments have aided Romania in attracting
EU funds.
The inability for Romanians to work in approximately
15 Member States beginning in January 2012 has caused a
great deal of tension between Romania and the EU. Some
nations have created extensions of their restrictions until
2014, claiming that economic recession prevents absorption
of new workers, or temporary migrant workers. 92 Other
nations such as Austria and Germany are distrustful of
newly acceded nations and believe that Romania should
wait as long as the other post-communist countries did:
seven years after full accession (the maximum amount of
time according to EU law). 93 Many Romanian journalists
expressed frustration about their nationals’ inability to
work in other countries. 94
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