SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF IMMIGRANTS' INTEGRATION IN ROMANIA

In the last decade, Romania has seen a positive and slightly oscillating trend in terms of immigration, being recognised as a transit country. Before 2004, the number of immigrants in Romania was relatively small, especially from the Republic of Moldova, Turkey and China. After joining the European Union, Romania enters the circuit of intra-community mobility. Immigration policy focused on the phenomenon of immigration of third-country nationals, representing around 0.3% of the total population. The integration of immigrants into Romania is the result of a dynamic ratio between the collective dimension, put into value through expectations, social norms characteristic of society as a whole, and the individual size, whereby the immigrant must meet a cumulation of normal standards in society. The reality has led to a paradigm shift in addressing immigrants' integration policies in Romania, with the centre of gravity moving from equal treatment to immigrants to ensuring equal opportunities and access to all areas (economic, social, cultural) and participation in civil and political life.