Migration trends in selected applicant countries : Volume IV Romania

Migration is a rather new phenomenon in Romania after 1990. The difference between in-flows and out-flows is significantly in favour of out-migrants in terms of volumes and experiences. The explanation is quite straightforward, when one thinks of the economic potential of Romania. The labour market is not very attractive and the business environment is under continuous change. That is why there is a common perception, supported by data and information coming from authorities, that Romania has been mostly a transit country and not a destination country. However, there is a risk to ignore future trends and not to be prepared for the expected moment when more immigrants from Middle East, Africa and Former Soviet Union republics will decide to settle on the Romanian territory and not just heading to more developed economies. This moment is likely to happen close to 2007, the Romanian accession year to the EU.In terms of out-flows probably labour migration is the most important form of Romanians moving to a foreign country. Student mobility represents less than one-fifth of the total volume of migrant workers after 1990 and emigration for good has been constantly declining since 1995. The push economic factors are the most important in generating migration flows, but relative deprivation at the level of small communities is the engine to perpetuate migration flows. 2001 is a crucial year for labour migration, after EU lifting visa requirements for Romanian citizens. Although this decision was followed by drastic control measures and sanctions from the Romanian authorities, the 3 months period for travelling in any EU country either created opportunities for migrants to find a legal job or stimulated an inventive mechanism of 3 months job replacement (one job - several workers).