Diaspora Policies, Consular Services and Social Protection for Romanian Citizens Abroad

Romania is the EU Member State with the highest numbers of emigrants, according to Eurostat. The annual growth of the Romanian diaspora is one of the fastest in the world, and quite recent (over the past 20 years). In light of these developments, the institutional network for engagement with Romanians abroad, first established in the mid-1990s, has recently increased in an attempt to respond to the fast-growing Romanian diaspora. A Ministry entirely dedicated to maintaining the relations with the Romanian diaspora was formally institutionalized 10 years after Romania officially joined the EU in 2017, replacing scattered departments and institutional bodies. However, the role of the recently set up diaspora institutions still needs to be clarified and firmly determined. Policies were developed with the goal of ensuring the integration of Romanian citizens in their countries of residence, but also to encourage return to Romania. In particular, as few other European diaspora populations, the Romanian diaspora is represented in the Romanian Parliament by two Senators and four Deputies who represent the interests of three to five million Romanians abroad.