Task Force: Advocating for a human rights approach to Migration/Refugees
National Context Fiche -ROMANIA
Name:Alexe Iris
Country and Network:RENASIS – EAPN Romania
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- State of play on migration/asylum
Immigration is a recent phenomenon in Romania as the country experiences a net outmigration. At the end of 2016, migrants represent approx. 0.5 per cent of the total population. More than half of immigrants are family members of a Romanian citizen / citizen EU and EEA and nearly 10 per cent of them have arrived in Romania on the basis of family reunification. One third of immigrants from Romania came to study in Romanian schools and universities. Immigrants who chose Romania for a job, reach less than 15 per cent and less than 5 per cent of TCNs came in Romania based on commercial business purpose. The number of asylum seekers as well as beneficiaries of international protection in Romania is small compared to other Member States but the trend is increasing. Regarding the territorial distribution, most foreigners reside in counties with the greatest economically and educationally opportunities: Bucharest and Ilfov, Constanta, Iasi, Cluj and Timis.Most foreigners with permanent residence are from Turkey, China and Syria, and more than half of the immigrants in Romania are youth in the age group below 35 years and about 60% are men. The main countries of origin for foreigners with temporary residence in Romania, are: Moldova (over 30%), Turkey (15%) and China (12%).
Regarding the processing of asylum applications, in 2015 there were a total of 1,266 applications for asylum with an approval rate of 47% who received international protection.Main countries of origin of asylum seekers in Romania, in 2015, are Syria (541), Iraq (214) and Afghanistan (96) and falls in top countries of origin for asylum seekers in the European Union. Other nationalities include: Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, stateless persons, etc. As shown, in 2015-2016 Romania was not a main target country for migrants’ routes taken to arrive in Europe as most asylum seekers aimed at MS such as Germany and Nordic countries.
In 2016 and 2017 Romania should receive at least 4,180 refugee resettled under the two mechanisms adopted at EU level.
- Policy responses
Romania made some changes regarding the legislative provisions for third country nationals and asylum seekers in order ensure better integration of migrants and management of the immigration phenomenon taking into account the unprecedented migration crisis that Europe has registered. Some changes aimed to harmonize the legislation in the field of migration that the migrants could access easier the public services (e. g. health insurance) or to improve the integration process. For example, for the asylum seekers the allowance was increased and the 6 months integration program became mandatory. At the same time, through AMIF there were financed multiple projects that support integration of TCNs (especially the vulnerable cases) and beneficiary of international protection, as well as the Romania’ efforts to fulfil the objectives and targets assumed at European level.
In response to the refugee crisis, the Romanian Government established the Inter-ministerial Committee of the National Coalition for the Integration of Refugees in November 2015 (Decision no. 312/2015 concerning the creation of the Inter-ministerial Committee the National Coalition for the Integration of the Refugees). The objective of the Committee is the integration of refugees, according to the obligations that Romania has as EU MS, working for the integration of refugees in the Romanian society, choosing best solutions and ensuring the implementation and coordination of measures in this regard.
Specifically,in 2016 the law on asylum in Romania (Law 122/2016) was modified and regulations and plans such as Rules of Procedure of the Regional Centers for procedures and accommodation of asylum seekers or the Regulation of the Accommodation Centers for foreigners taken into public custody, have been adopted. In 2015 it was approved the new National Strategy for Immigration for the period 2015-2018 and the Action Plan for 2015 that represent the strategic documents that guide the management of migration flows towards Romania. The national strategy aims at efficient management of immigration and includes strategic objectives, targets and courses of action which reflect the policies established at European level, adapted to national realities. Thus, for the next four years Romania will track the effective management of immigration, in all its aspects, namely through: to address gaps in specific skills and attracting highly skilled workers, a more robust approach to illegal immigration and readmission, including a more cooperation with third countries, to protect those who need help through a integrated asylum policy and framework.
- General civil society response
More than willing to participate in efforts to integrate refugees, the NGOs promptly responded to the initiative of the Romanian Government to establish the National Coalition for the Integration of Refugees, respectively the Inter-ministerial Committee of the National Coalition for the Integration of Refugees (Decision no. 312/2015 concerning the creation of the Inter-ministerial Committee the National Coalition for the Integration of the Refugees). The objective of the Committee is the integration of refugees, according to the obligations that Romania has as EU MS, working for the integration of refugees in the Romanian society.
In this context the NGOs active in the field of immigration participated to meetings and workshops on different topics related to integration of migrants such as healthcare assistance, education, housing, legislative harmonization, medium and long-term integration measures and public information, social and cultural integration, local integration and primary logistics needs.
At the same time, through AMIF there were financed multiple projects that support integration of TCNs and beneficiary of international protection. In this context, several information campaigns were developed in Romania and 5 Regional Centres for Integration in all areas of Romania were established.Organisations such as Novapolis Association, JRS Romania, World Vision Romania, ARCA - the Romanian Forum for Refugees and Migrants, Center for Civic Resources Constanta, Intercultural Institute from Timisoara, Association Connect, ICAR Foundation and others work closely with migrants and contribute to their integration in Romania through activities such as Romanian language courses, accommodation sessions, recreational activities for children, educational, multicultural and recreational activities for adults, legal and social counselling.
It is worth to note the UNHCR campaign launched in June 2016 to ask people around the world to stand together #WithRefugees. The petition appealing for government action on behalf of the world’s forcibly displaced was signed by more than one million peopleglobally.
In Romania, there are occasional citizens’ initiatives supporting migrants, involving a number of volunteers and addressing primarily basic needs such as food and clothing, and there are also activities initiated by local migrant communities. At the same time during this period there were conducted several research and surveys regarding the public opinion and the refugee crisis and migration phenomenon. The Immigrant Integration Barometer 2015 shows that when Romanians are asked to express their views about immigrants, a very small percentage (10%) say they have a bad and very bad opinion in this regard. In general, the Romanian society is tolerant and agrees with the integration of TCNs in Romania. In 2015, IRES conducted a survey regarding Romanians’ perception on the refugee crisis in Europe, and the effects it would have on Romania and how the situation should be managed by the Romanian authorities (Immigrants’ Crisis in Europe - public perceptions of Romanians, IRES, 2015) that showed that 83% of those participating in the study said they had heard about the crisis from EU borders. The report “Romanians' perception about the Refugee Crisis” developed in early 2016 by the Pro Democratia Association shows that 99% of respondents said they had heard about this European problem, and 1% had not heard about it. As for the agreement on the presence of refugees in Romania, respondents balanced their positions: 54% saying they disagreed with refugees’ presence in Romania, while 46% saying they agreed.
- How your organization and EAPN is responding/working with the issues.
RENASIS – EAPN Romania as a network had some input regarding the issues above,however several members were very active and implemented activities for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, mainly on providing services at local and national level and sharing information on campaigns and rights of migrants.
For example, Novapolis Association and World Vision member organisations of RENASIS implement theongoing project “INTEGRATION+: Services and assistance for migrants in Region 2″ that provide support services (social, medical, psychological, legal, etc.) adapted and adequate to the specific needs of beneficiaries of international protection (BP) and third-country nationals (TCNs) legally residing in Romania by supporting the social integration process and by consolidating the capacity of relevant actors and the inter-agency cooperation. The project aims to provide integrated services through the Regional Integration Centres (CRI) and to support the cooperation between institutions, embassies, consulates, media, communities of foreigners, stakeholders and non-governmental organizations to promote and conduct activities for the integration of foreigners, BP and TCNs, in Region 2 (CRCPSA Galati) in the following counties: Galati, Vrancea, Bacau, Vaslui, Braila, Tulcea and Constanta. Through its activities the project provides assistance and integration services and aims to improve the situation of migrants, which represent groups of persons with many social problems, especially for the newly-arrived in Romania, related with not knowing the customs and the Romanian language, limited access and integration in the labor market for most of them, the lack of material and financial means of living, lack of opportunities for socialization, fewer opportunities to access the health system and the education system.
At the same time, Novapolis Association coordinates and develops a local support network for integration of migrants from South-East Romania in order to create the preconditions of good cooperation and coordination between the main actors involved in the integration of migrants. The network includes the Public Employment Services, public institutions and authorities and NGOs from 7 counties. The goal of the network is to facilitate the exchange of information, experience and expertise in the field and to strengthen the capacity of relevant actors and inter-institutional cooperation regarding integration of migrants and/ or their access to labour market and other services. Inclusion is a long-term process that can happen only with sustained efforts from both sides and it is based on the openness, respect and support of the community and the authorities that should take action to combat exclusion and marginalization.