(1 Jan 2007)
1. Exterior of train station in Sofia
2. Close-up of sign reading: "Sofia"
3. Various of people on platform
4. Various of family having photos taken in front of train
5. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Nedeljkova Sevda, Bulgarian in search of work:
"I am a bit ashamed that I am a migrant worker but today's opportunity is very good for us to leave since there is no job for me here."
6. People walking along the platform, pan left down platform
7. Various of people on train
8. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Nina Stojanova, Bulgarian in search of work:
"I need to leave I know I am a bit old."
Q: "Why are you leaving?"
"No work, no job for me here."
9. Various of people on train
10. Guard inspecting train, blowing whistle
11. Passengers on train seen through window
12. Guard blowing whistle
13. People waving through window of train, train leaving for Thessaloniki
STORYLINE:
As celebrations to mark Bulgaria's entry into the European Union came to a close on Monday, dozens of Bulgarians were leaving their country in search of work in Greece.
"I am a bit ashamed that I am a migrant worker but today's opportunity is very good for us to leave since there is no job for me here," said Nedeljkova Sevda, who was leaving Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, in search of work in Thessaloniki.
Nina Stojanova, another Bulgarian catching a train out of the country echoed those words saying she had "no work" and "no job" at home.
Bulgaria, and its fellow former Communist state Romania, officially joined the EU at the stroke of midnight, increasing the bloc of nations to 27 and almost half a billion people.
Both countries still fall short of EU standards and despite gaining access to millions in lucrative EU subsidies and the potential of billions more in increased foreign investment, the new states have not been granted all the privileges of their hard-won membership.
At present, neither state is part of the euro zone and both will be excluded from the 15-nation Schengen visa system which allows passport-free travel.
Their citizens also face employment restrictions in some European countries.
Of the 15 core EU members, only six, Britain, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, have eased work force restrictions.
The other nine include countries like Germany and France, where unemployment and fears of an influx of cheap labour both run high.
Despite lifting obstacles to jobseekers from the 10 nations that joined in 2004, Britain, Ireland and Sweden are expected to set the strictest conditions for Romanians and Bulgarians.
Some say the entry of Romania and Bulgaria could even lead to a "three-speed Europe," because their workers may be shut out of labour markets in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The two countries threw off communism in 1989, applied for EU membership in 1995 and began accession talks in 2000.
The negotiations ended two years ago, and the European Commission declared in September that both Bulgaria and Romania were ready to join the bloc.
Despite lingering problems with corruption and judicial reforms, both countries had strong economic growth following years of deep recession.
Growth in 2006 is estimated at 5.5 per cent in Bulgaria.
But Bulgaria's population of 7.8 (m) million will be the poorest in the EU, with an average monthly salary of just 180 Bulgarian Lev (236 US dollars).
As part of strict regulations governing their entry, Bulgaria and Romania will be obliged to submit reports to the union every six months on progress made in judiciary and police, food security and air traffic.
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