Halfway down the Danube

2007 + x: The water cooler factor

I've always wondered why Romanians were so adamant about their country joining the EU in 2007. Listening to the talk, it appeared as if this date was fixed, absolutely certain. On May 1, the entire city of Bucharest was decked in European flags. For a moment, I was not sure whether Romania hadn't managed to do the impossible thing and make the EU a union of 26. On May 9, Europe Day was celebrated with a giant firework and President Illiescu declared that Romania was a "de facto member of the European Union".

Not so, my friends and I'm not the only one to think so.

The Economist had an article about this very topic just last month.

Romania's pantomime of optimism deters EU officials and visiting politicians from questioning its ambitions, at least publicly. The only blunter message has come from the European Parliament, which said last month that Romania's accession in 2007 would be impossible unless it tackled such issues as corruption, a lack of judicial independence, harassment of the media and police brutality. [...] Romania wants the negotiations concluded by the end of this year, but that looks unlikely. Even the completion of negotiations would not mean that Romania was “ready” to join the EU in any strict sense. Nobody thinks this poor, sprawling country, whose income per person is 10% of the EU average, will have an efficient government, decent judges, a sophisticated market economy and mastery of EU law by 2005, nor even by 2007.

You'd think with the end of 2004 approaching rapidly -- I'm not kidding, it's only six more months, considering that the entire country shuts down in August -- Romanian politicians would do everything to speed up the reform process. But no, they are in fact dragging their feet. Why? Because 2004 is also an election year. Nobody likes to make important and maybe unpopular decisions when at the same time he has to fear for his reelection. It's one of those things that drive my poor husband crazy but it can't be helped, apparently. I myself heard a Minister of Something or Other say "but it's an election year, nobody will do anything". (He didn't say it to me. I overheard him in the buffet line at the Dutch Embassy's celebration of Queen Beatrix' birthday.)

It hasn't helped that Romania sided with the US in the Iraq war. You could argue that Romania is a free country and can choose alliances as it wishes but the truth is, France and Germany were mighty pissed. As questionable as the influence of those two countries may be, one cannot deny that it exists. The EU is nothing without France and Germany. Having them be angry at you is not good.

See - we have a water cooler, and a subscription to a certain amount of water each month. I call, they come and deliver the canisters. Nice people, very quick service. I have to give three signatures on three different forms, every time. There's a lot of money, time, and workforce that could be saved if they only used one form. Multiply that with all the businesses in Romania (because they all use 3+ forms), and you have something to begin with. It's just one small example but it's typical.

The inefficiency in this country is a leftover from the Communist heydays but those are long gone and it should be corrected, and soon. All of my Romanian friends and acquaintances agree on that point -- so why does it seem so hard to change? Crusted structures are hard to break open, especially when people initially might loose their jobs. Walk into any retail store and count the sales clerks there. Count the many construction workers that simply stand around and watch the other construction workers work. Any change that will send countless people on the streets will not be popular, and, as I said, it's an election year.

I love Romania. I want things to be better for all my Romanian friends. I think Romania does belong into the EU, some day. But that day will not be January 1, 2007.

Considering all this, I dare a predicition: 2007 is out. When then? 2009? Even later than that?

I guess we have to wait and see.

Posted by claudia at May 22, 2004 05:07 PM