Post: #51

OP, you should start with what your goals are and give a little background about yourself and where your interests lie.

I was going to mention Switzerland but Tail Gunner beat me to it. For work, I can't think think of a better spot in Europe. First of all, that country has a large international labor force. Finance/banking, consulting, and international development offer many opportunities in cities like Zurich, Basel, and Geneva. The country is super clean with solid infrastructure. You can hit the ski resort towns like Gstaad in the winter or Interlaken and Lake Zurich in the summer. Switzerland is also a pretty central location for Europe, bordering Italy, France and Germany. I think it can feel a bit sterile and even boring but, in sum, it's a good deal.

Someone mentioned Portugual, which I checked out in April of this year. Lisbon has lost so many young professionals. It's like a ghost town at night. In fact, the dude I rented an apartment from on airbnb wasn't even there - he was living in London and hired someone to give me the keys and take care of any issues. Can't see that place recovering any time soon.

I hear the Scotland independence vote likely won't pass. If it does, that would be a massive blow to the prestige and standing of the UK, which has long been on a decline. I can't possibly see how it would be a good move for Scotland. It would raise a whole host of questions about matters of defense, economic cooperation, political rights, etc.

Catalonia will likely separate from Spain eventually. I heard not too long ago they protested by creating a 250-mile long human chain. Spain is a deeply fractured country with each region and state having its own unique food, language/dialect, customs and traditions. Catalonians really want out and can probably manage fairly well without Spain. Barcelona brings in more tourist dollars than any other Spanish city by far, yet much of that money goes to the government in Madrid...

Quebec isn't going anywhere. If it did separate, they would have to leave Montreal behind. Montreal used to be the economic capital of Canada until those Francophone traditionalists passed a series of strict language laws that made it very difficult for international companies - which rely on English - to operate. Ever since the 1970s, Montreal has ceded the title of alpha city to Toronto. It sucks. I like Montreal's charm and unique culture, but it's very hard for a business-minded, entrepreneurial individual to set up there because of its defiance about language. I think they've somewhat learned from their mistakes though in that the city has distanced itself from the rest of Quebec, which doesn't consider it a true Quebecois city.

Post: #52

what do you think about the economic perspectives of Lithuania?

Post: #53

Quote:Romania - Similar to Bulgaria. The Schengen will mean more best and bright leaving for the west.

You're wrong. We don't need Schengen for this, the work restrictions have been lifted on january 1st, 2014 in all EU for Romanians and Bulgarians, that is they can leave - right now! All we need now to go work and live in the rest of the EU is the ID which to show at the border. We're in the same situation as UK, we're in the EU but not in Schengen and that's all there is to it.
The way I see it, the worst of Romania has already left for Western Europe because they didn't need work restrictions to be lifted if they didn't intend on working. I am very glad that I don't see any sort of criminal activity around here anymore and that Romanians that remained here are civilized.
As for the best and brightest - some of them make a good enough living here to not need to leave their families, friends and country. Some are patriots and don't want to leave, no matter how ugly the home city, it still has emotional value. Others will leave though.
I for one will definitely leave Romania - most likely this year, I have many reasons to do that, I've been here more than I should've and when it comes to Romanian women I know them better than I needed to, they are an open book to me but I don't always like what I'm "reading". In terms of my business projects, I'm better off going to Western countries, I'm not one of the people that can live a good enough life in Romania.
Germany and the UK have the best perspectives. Norway and Switzerland are good as well but rather inaccessible to us Romanians because they're not in the EU.

Post: #54

You are right, i see more romanian beggars in scandinavian countries than i see in romania itself.