A common vision for the integration of migrants and refugees in Romania

On December 3 and 4, 2019, relevant actors in the field of integration of foreigners in Romania met in Bucharest to build a common vision. More than 60 participants were present: representatives of civil society, public institutions, universities and international institutions.

The event was organized under the aegis of the Coalition for the Rights of Migrants and Refugees (CDMiR), by the Center for Public Innovation, within the project NIEM - National Integration Evaluation Mechanisms, and the Romanian National Refugee Council (CNRR), with the support of UNHCR Romania.

The first day, December 3, was dedicated to the national conference A common vision for the integration of migrants and refugees in Romania. In the opening session, representatives of the civil society and the academic environment presented the latest research results, and advocacy plans in the field. Ovidiu Voicu, NIEM national researcher, presented the NIEM project, and its preliminary results for 2019. The focus of the presentation was on how we measure the impact of integration, what are the indicators of success, and how we can use NIEM data to measure the progress. Anatolie Cosciug, from the Babes-Bolyai University, presented the preliminary outcomes of the study on perceptions and satisfaction of the integration programs’ beneficiaries.  

The second session was led by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, the public institution responsible for this topic, and brought to the attention of the state's efforts to successfully integrate foreigners in Romania. The state representatives underlined the recent legislative changes meant to improve the integration program. They’ve also announced the upcoming public debate on the National Strategy on Immigration 2020-2023. 

The conference continued with a dialogue led by UNHCR Romania, on its own multi-annual strategy. It was the first time that UNHCR Romania is undertaking such an exercise, requesting feed-back and suggestions from the civil society. 
The next day, December 4, was reserved for CDMiR member organizations, which met at the Coalition's annual meeting. The Center for Public Innovation, the organization that maintained the Coalition secretariat for the period 2018-2019, presented the results of the actions of 2019. For 2020, the Romanian National Refugee Council was appointed to lead the Coalition secretariat, and the participants initiated the discussion on the advocacy targets of the coalition. Three more organization and one academic supporter joined the Coalition. The number of members (NGOs) is now 22, and the number of supporters (international organizations and research organizations) is 5. 

Ovidiu Voicu
Center for Public Innovation
Romania