The EU has sought to calm fears in countries such as Britain, France, and Germany that they face a mass influx of Romanians and Bulgarians following the lifting of restrictions, a change that risks fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.

Bulgarians go to the polls today to decide between a member of the ruling centre-right party and a left-wing ex-foreign minister in an election run-off for the presidency of the impoverished, corruption-plagued country.