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Comment by senko | Hacker News Reader

> The reality of the eurozone is that it has made rich countries exports cheaper (Germany, France) and made marginal countries poorer (Italy, Spain, Portugal)

Italy is not a marginal country. It's the world's 8th largest economy, way larger than such EU heavyweights as Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland.

> If you grew up in Croatia speaking Croat and possibly English, do you really think the Greek labor market is open to you? Could you in all practicality relocate to Belgium and start a business?

If you grew up in Croatia, you for sure speak English and possibly German or Italian as well.

It would not be as easy to relocate your business as, perhaps from one US state to another, but that's mostly because of local law differences in how a business must operate.

I know people who basically just got up and moved (to the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Germany) and they had no problem whatsoever.

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> Italy is not a marginal country. It's the world's 8th largest, way larger than such EU heavyweights as Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Same applies to Spain

Edited to add as I can't reply: I know of multiple tradespeople that have moved from Zagreb, mostly to Germany and Austria. That's plumbers, house painters, HVAC installers, ..

The difference in wages is large and unemployment in rich EU countries low - that's a potent combination.

I did just that, I have friends trying to do it and it's complete BS.

I was able to do it just because I'm in software and I work with english speaking clients outside the EU and I'm just shopping for the best eu country that gives me the best weather / services / lifestyle with the lower taxes.

People outside of software have a hard time and are stuck in their country, exactly like they were before the EU.

Which country did you move to, and what was the main impediment?

Your combo sounds like Portugal. I agree there are probably differences between countries, but from what I've seen if your trade is in demand in the target country, it's relatively easy.

And it's even easier if there's an expat community you can reach out to for advice.

I hope people realize I'm not just shutting on the EU with my post. It is legitimately hard to emigrate ANYWHERE, let alone another country that doesn't speak your language and has cultural differences.

Hell, I couldn't live, work, state a business in most of the USA and we all speak the same language and share a lot of the same culture, currency, federal government. Etc.

> People outside of software have a hard time and are stuck in their country, exactly like they were before the EU.

Not really. It's very popular for Croats to move to Ireland to drive trucks for instance. There are businesses set up by Croatians in other EU countries that hire Croats who don't speak any other languages. People get the help of friends and family when they immigrate. It's been like that for many immigrants worldwide for a long time.

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