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		Letter to the Editor East Midlands Local Newspapers Thursday 8 August 2002 Dear Sir Migration Watch UK has made a valuable contribution this week to the immigration debate in the UK, pointing out that Britain can expect to receive more than 2 million immigrants every 10 years for the foreseeable future unless curbs are introduced. This is an issue that concerns the general public but one which politicians seem reluctant to talk about. But we seem to be missing a key point. The EU proposes to admit ten new member states in 2004, with 75 million population. These people are, relatively, poorer than Western Europeans. They include significant sub-groups subject to disadvantage and discrimination. For example, there are up to 4 million Roma (gypsy) people in Hungary and Slovakia. After accession, these people can come to Britain not as refugees or asylum seekers, but as "European Citizens". With their little red EU passports, they can live here, work here, vote here as of right. Many will choose to do so, and this will enormously increase immigration numbers over the next ten years. EU enlargement threatens dire consequences not only for immigration, but also for agriculture and the EU budget. Yet like so many damaging EU projects, this huge change is being slipped through quietly with minimal debate. By the time the British people recognise what has happened, it will be too late. Yours sincerely, Roger Helmer MEP