In scrisoarea adresata primului ministru Gordon Brown, care insoteste petitia, Cristina Irimie subliniaza:
" Stim ca dezbaterile privind imigratia in UK reprezinta unul dintre cele mai sensibile subiecte ale politicii britanice, dar noi cerem guvernului britanic doar sa trateze cetatenii romani la fel ca si pe ceilalti cetateni ai UE. Prin politica actuala, guvernul dumneavoastra ne-a conferit statutul de cetateni de mana a doua. "
Scrisoarea este incheiata prin apelul Cristinei Irimie catre prim-ministrul Gordon Brown de a anula restrictiile: " Apreciem revizuirea actualului sistem pe care Ministerul de Interne o conduce acum, dar ne temem ca termenii de referinta ai acestui exercitiu- impactul imigrarii din toate tarile Europei centrale si de Est- va impiedica o revizuire obiectiva a acestor restrictii. De aceea va cerem sa interveniti personal pentru a pune un capat acestui sistem nedrept al discriminarii impotriva cetatenilor romani.”
Redactia ziarului “Roman in UK”
110 Britannia House
11 Glenthorne Road
London W6 0LH
Tel: 0044 208 7356 524
Fax: 0044 208 735 6525
Email: ziar @ romani.co.uk
Dear Prime Minister,
I am pleased to have submitted for your consideration a 2052 signature petition urging an end to the system of work permits imposed on Romanians in the UK by the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2007, as amended. The petition was handed in at 10 Downing Street today, the 15th of October 2007.
The petition demonstrates the strong sense of injustice felt by the Romanian community in the UK over the discriminatory treatment to which we are subject by the current system of work permits.
We consider this system to be costly, complex and counter-productive. It discriminates against Romanians simply because our country joined the EU in 2007 rather than 2004. Moreover, the system is unnecessary as shown by the very low numbers of Romanians seeking to work in the UK.
We appreciate that the immigration debate in the UK is one of great political sensitivity, but all we ask is that the British government treat Romanian citiziens as it does all other EU nationals. Instead, through the Regulations, your Government has given us a second-class status.
We welcome the review of the Regulations currently being conducted by the Home Office, but are very much concerned that the terms of reference for this exercise – considering the impact of immigration from all central and eastern European states – prevents the Regulations being reviewed in an objective manner. We urge you personally to intervene and put an end to this unjust and unfair system of discrimination against Romanian nationals.
Yours sincerely,
Cristina Irimie
Editor, Roman in UK newspaper