Download Bulgaria and Romania

Bulgaria and Romania
The Economies
Romania
GDP per capita (2004) 7000 euro (in PPS), or 31.4% of the EU average(Source:
Eurostat, http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/pls/portal, 22.04.2005).
Economic growth 5% in 2002; 5.2% in 2003; 8.3% in 2004
Inflation rate (2004) 11.9% (interim HICP)
Unemployment rate 6.8% in 2004
Currency Lei (plural form for Leu) 1 leu = 100 bani.
Romania switched to “new leu” as from 1/7/05. Symbol of new currency: RON
Average exchange rate in October 2005: 1 EUR = 1 € = 3.6503 RON
Government budget balance -1.4% of GDP in 2004
Current account balance End of 2004: -7.5% of GDP
Debt 18.5% of GDP in 2004
Trade with EU25 (2003) Exports to the EU: 74% of the total
Imports from the EU: 68% of the total (Source: EU bilateral trade and trade with the
world, DG TRADE, 29.04.2005.)
Source: European Commission, Candidate Countries' Economies Quarterly (CCEQ),
1st quarter 2005
More on the economy…
Romania is the EU’s 14th largest trading
partner. In 2004 Trade was worth 32.Billion
Euro.
EU is Romania’s most important trading
partner
Marco economic situation is stable and
has improved over the last ten years
Economic Growth as fuelled a trade
imbalance caused by domestic demand
Monetary Policy tweaked to counter
growth in borrowing
Unemployment 7.1% FDI steady inflation
falling (9.1%)
Major privatisation is under way but has
not been smooth
A corrupt Judiciary is currently being
reformed.
Bulgaria
GDP per capita € 6324 per capita (in purchasing power standards),
or 30.8% of the EU-25 average in 2004
Economic growth 4.9% in 2002; 4.5% in 2003; 5.6% in 2004
Inflation rate 6.1% in 2004
Unemployment rate 11.9%
Currency 1 lev = 100 stotinki
1 Euro = 1.95583 leva (BGN)
Government budget balance 2004 budget surplus of 1.3% of GDP
Current account balance (2004) -1452.8 million euro or 7.4% of
GDP
Foreign debt 55.9 % of GDP in 2004
Trade with EU (2004) Exports to the EU: 54.2% of total exports
Import from the EU 48.2 % of total imports
Considered a functioning market economy
since 2002
Believed to able to withstand competition
with out E.U states
Economy is stable but unpopular structural
reforms are faltering
Large trade deficit
Slow Growth in GNP per capita
Unemployment fell to 10% in 2004
FDI at 10% but slowing down as reforms
slow down
Currently receiving generous funding from
the international monetary fund and
European Bank of Development and
reconstruction
The economist predicts slight fall in
growth, inflation increase due to flooding
and a shrinking deficit as oil prices
stabilise and consumer spending drop
Human Rights
HR – Political History
1946-1989, Part of the soviet Bloc, with the longest serving soviet
leader, Todor Zhivkov.
1990s, a decade of political turmoil.
1992 saw the first democratically elected president, Zhelyn Zheler.
In 1993, mass privatisation heralded the end of the soviet era.
1994, however, the Socialist party returned to power.
2001, monarchist party wins elections.
2005 we see a Socialist-led coalition in power.
HR - General
Abuses against mentally disabled people, especially concerning living
conditions, use of force in restraint, and arbitrary detention.
Complains of ill treatment by law enforcement officials including unlawful
use of firearms resulting in several deaths every year.
Racist assaults on minority groups.
Police raids on places of worship.
However, there was a step forward in the abolition of the death penalty in
1998.
Many refugee problems especially concerning the migration between
Bulgaria and Turkey.
Concerns that all minority groups, but mainly Gypsies and Turks, are seen
as a threat by ethnic Bulgarians. Deliberate use of this by nationalist
movements especially in those regions most affected by economic
problems.
Source – Amnesty International reports on Bulgaria 2004, 2005
Source – Seminar ‘Aspects of the Ethnocultural situation in Bulgaria’, International Migration
Review 1992
Women’s Rights
Since 1989, the twofold transition to both market economy and liberal
democracy has led to fundamental changes in Romania, affecting women in
both the public and private spheres. These transformations are due to both
internal and external pressures. As an external factor, the impact of the
European Union's position on equal opportunities has led Romania to bring
about changes in its legal and institutional framework.
However, while undoubtedly beneficial, the influence of the European Union
is also limited to a specific range of issues, namely those prioritised in EU
legislation and policy-making (primarily employment and social policy). This
is where factors internal to Romanian society and politics come into play. It
is suggested that real progress involves addressing inequalities in both
public and private spheres, in contradistinction to the overall emphasis
placed by the European Commission on the public sphere alone.
Taking Women Seriously: Equal Opportunities and Romania's Accession to the European Union
Cristina Chiva
Women in public and private life
The public political sphere is predominantly masculine, as indicated by the
systematic under-representation of women in the Parliament and government,
as well as by "the absence of an outlook based on gender equity" from political
parties. The economic sphere witnesses the same phenomenon: from 1991 to
1998, rising unemployment has constantly affected women more than men,
while women are over-represented in the lowest wage sectors of the economy
(especially agriculture, healthcare and education).
In the private sphere, four fifths of the total number of single-parent
households in 1998 were headed by women; abortion constituted the main
means of birth control, with a staggering rate of over 300 abortions per 100 live
births in 1990, receding to just over 100 in 1998; the maternal mortality rate in
1997 was over five times the average in Europe. Furthermore, both women's
and men's understandings of gender roles is framed by patriarchal
assumptions and practices: respondents to the 2000 Gender Barometer agree
to an overwhelming extent that women are housekeepers and primary
caretakers, while men are breadwinners for their families. Moreover, a
staggering percentage of those questioned (over 80%) said that household
tasks such as cleaning, cooking or ironing are performed exclusively by
women.
By Svetla Dimitrova for Southeast European Times in Sofia
The EU’s Role
The limits of the EU's democratising influence quickly become apparent.
Two of the most recent reports of the European Commission locate the
requirements for reform primarily in the field of Chapter 13 of the accession
programme, dealing with social policy and employment. These
requirements concern three distinct areas:
1) legislative change (particularly the need for Romania to "transpose into
national law" the nine Community Directives concerning equal pay,
pregnancy and maternity, parental leave, social security and sex
discrimination);
2) institutional change (developing structures to implement and enforce
equal opportunities);
3) tackling "economic, social, political and cultural" inequalities. Throughout
the reports, overwhelming emphasis is placed on the first two areas, while
in the third, more general area, reference is made primarily to employment,
political decision-making, domestic violence and trafficking in women.
Taking Women Seriously: Equal Opportunities and Romania's Accession to the European Union
Cristina Chiva
The EU’s Role
With the significant exception of domestic violence, the European
Commission's approach is mainly concerned with the public (political and
economic) sphere. This denotes relatively little acknowledgement of the
ways in which women's equal opportunities in the public sphere are affected
by inequalities in the private realm, so that "the progress reports do not
sufficiently address gender equality issues". This is indeed a matter to be
reconsidered by the European Commission, insofar as its enlargement
strategy is concerned.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to keep in mind that implementing equal
opportunities should not be merely an instrument for furthering Romania's
accession to the EU. Rather, promoting and achieving gender equality is an
intrinsic part of a consolidated democracy. This is why the aim of attaining
equality between men and women in Romania cannot and should not
depend in its entirety on the EU's political conditionality.
Therefore, the comprehensive framework suggested above entails two
complementary types of transformations: 1) those required by the European
Union; 2) those pertaining to domestic initiatives. In other words, while
undoubtedly necessary, the changes called for by the EU are not sufficient
for efficient implementation of equal opportunities in Romania.
Taking Women Seriously: Equal Opportunities and Romania's Accession to the European Union
Cristina Chiva
HR – the Roma Community
Bulgarian Roma community: 4.7% of the total population (7.5 million).
Romanian Roma community: 2.5% of total population (22.3 million).
EU accession has imposed conditions on Bulgaria and Romania to improve
the situation of minorities especially the Roma community.
In Bulgaria, 1999, the government adopted ‘The Framework Programme for
Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgaria Society’.
In Romania, 2001, established ‘The National Strategy for Improving the
Situation of the Roma’. Both programs address problems of their economic
situation, healthcare, justice, education and social security.
HR – the Roma Community
Reports published by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
on Bulgaria (2004), Romania (2006) outlined several issues including
unemployment, education and use of force and firearms.
Unemployment:
In Romania (2003) a labour code was adopted which included a provision against
discrimination, but did not include any Roma-specific objectives. Roma
unemployment is estimated at 25% (National Average 6.5%).
In Bulgaria Roma unemployment estimated at 51% (National Average 11.5%). In
certain Roma districts this figure may be up to 90%.
Education:
Romania (2004), the ministry of Education and Research banned all forms of
segregation in Romanian schools, but Roma children still find themselves in
schools of a lower standard. In 1998-99 primary education enrolment for Roma =
64% (General Population 98.9%).
In Bulgaria, a high percentage of Roma children are sent to schools intended for
children with mental disabilities. ECRI report found that government initiatives were
insufficient and most of the work in this area was carried out by NGOs.
HR – the Roma Community
Use of Force and Firearms:
In Bulgaria, surveys indicate that Roma are 3 times more likely to
suffer physical violence in police stations than people of Bulgarian
origin. 2000: a specialised Human Rights committee was set up
within the National Police department to train officers in Human
Rights and International standards, but no independent body has
been set up to investigate claims of ill-treatment.
In both country programs the ECRI found there was insufficient funding for
initiatives and the authorities appeared to lack the political will to ensure their
success. For example in Romania until 2003 only the EU was financing
National Strategy projects.
Source – European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
Conclusions?
Bulgaria and Romania on track to join EU in 2007,
although infringements create the possibility of a delay of
up to a year.
Generally the economies of both countries are improving
but standards of living remain low.
Ongoing problems with abuse of power, Human Rights
violations, and lack of punishment of senior officials.
Source www.bbc.co.uk
Should they be allowed to join? What effect would this
have on both these countries and on the EU itself?