High unemployment, alarming school dropout rates, and low economic potential have all been plaguing Vaslui region of Romania since the fall of communism 30 years ago (Photo: NGO World Vision Romania)

Feature

New year, old problems for one of EU's poorest places

EU Political

by Cristian Gherasim, Vaslui,

High unemployment, alarming school dropout rates, and low economic potential have all been plaguing Vaslui region of Romania since the fall of communism 30 years ago (Photo: NGO World Vision Romania)

The year is off to a rocky start in Vaslui, one of EU's most impoverished regions and Romania's poorest county, where two 12-year olds were found in alcohol-induced coma after having spent their Christmas carol-singing money on alcohol.

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EU Political Feature

Author Bio

Cristian Gherasim is a freelance journalist contributing to EUobserver, Euronews, EU Reporter, Katoikos, Von Mises Institute, and bne IntelliNews, with a particular focus on European and regional affairs.