What the newspapers say: June 1, 2009

Romanians can now travel to Switzerland by simply using their ID, the press reads. Elsewhere in the news, hundreds of Romanians were sold as slaves in the Czech Republic. Media’s attention was also caught by British virusologist Maria Zambon, who says that the fight for finding a vaccine against the A/H1N1 virus producing the swine flu might be released this autumn in the UK. Last but not least, Romania qualified for the 2010 Volley World Cup preliminary tour.

Monday, June 1: Romanians can now travel to Switzerland using only their ID, Romania Liberareads. The free travel agreement between Switzerland and The European Union includes Romania and Bulgaria as well, starting today. The freedom to work in Switzerland is not entirely on the house, as the Swiss authorities may impose limits on the number of Romanian and Bulgarians looking for work, Realitatea TV informs.

According to Romania Libera, Romanians and Bulgarians have to put up with 10 additional years of waiting to get the same rights on the work market as the Swiss citizens or inhabitants of the EU veteran members. June 1 2009 marks the opening of a transition period that starts off with a controlled opening of the work market

Hundreds of Romanians were sold as slaves in the Czech Republic, Adevarul informs. Romanians from Moldova region (East Romania) are attracted by jobs in the Czech Republic. They are offered 700 – 800 euros a month and free transport and housing. A big number of workers have been recruited from Botosani (city from the Romanian Moldova region).

Starting with 2004, hundreds of Romanians have been sold to Ukrainian mafia in Prague, the newspaper reads. Ukrainians paid 100-150 euro per one Romanian. They ended up in Auschwitz-like camps, working hard, sleeping in crowded huts and guarded by men with Kalashnikovs. They were paid peanuts money for months of tough toil.

Corni, Orăşeni Vale and Mileanca are three villages from Botosani where people where most eager to work for the Czechs. They were being recruited through a workforce agency, whose heads George Aboaice (33) and Cristian Grumeza (29) are now under arrest.

Evenimentul Zileireads British virusologist Maria Zambon says that the fight for finding a vaccine against the A/H1N1 virus producing the swine flu is fought against a ticking clock. World Health Organisation presently counts 15.510 infections and 99 deceased in 53 countries.

Head of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in London Maria Zambon said that Great Britain is trying to delay the spreading of the disease through all means, gaining time to come up with a vaccine. The British National Institute for Biological Standards produced a type of virus that could the labs and drug stores create a vaccin against the swine flu. Zambon hopes the vaccine to be released this autumn.

Romania qualified for the 2010 Volley World Cup preliminary tour, Gandul informs. Romanian volley national men team qualified on Sunday in Povoa de Varzim for the last preliminary volley World Cup tournament to take place in Italy. Romania defeated Denmark, score 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-18). Trainer by Stelian Moculescu coached the team to bring 7 points so far, leading Group G. Romania is followed in its group by Greece – 6 points, Slovenia – 5 points, Portugal – 5 points and Denmark – 3 points.