Romania's high and dry after party

The EU politicians who went to Bucharest for New Year's Eve to celebrate Romania's admission to the Union were spoilt for choice of festivity.
The Romanian President Traian Basescu put on a party in University Square. The Prime Minister Cˇalin Popescu-Tˇariceanu, who famously does not get on with the president, put on a rival party in Revolution Square while the Mayor of Bucharest Adriean Videanu put on yet another in Romexpo.
The European Parliament President Josep Borrell addressed the cheering crowds – not a common experience during his two and a half years in office. Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal ALDE group in the Parliament, was another joining in the Bucharest bacchanalia, or at least trying to.
The Scottish MEP's attempts to mark Hogmanay were not helped when on New Year's Day he asked at the Hilton Athenée Palace hotel for some champagne – and was told there was none left. Nor was there any red or white wine. The hotel had been drunk dry. This might be an indication of the enthusiasm for EU membership in Romania, or it could be a case of under-estimating the EU's absorption capacity.