Political institutions and society reaction to the Ukrainian war refugees in Romania

Abstract

Russia's aggression against Ukraine has triggered significant asylum flows, with Romania emerging as a primary corridor for Ukrainian refugees due to its extensive border shared with Ukraine. Against this backdrop, the study examines the actions taken by the Romanian Government and NGOs in response to the influx of Ukrainian refugees. Relying on documentary research, our findings revealed that most refugees sought temporary protection, while only a minority also pursued asylum. Although the Romanian state's response to the refugee crisis was effective, it faced initial delays, indicating both centralized power and unpreparedness for unexpected events. However, the civil society's active involvement compensated for governmental shortcomings. Nonetheless, for a smoother immigration and refugee integration process and a swift reaction, clarifying the current legislation in Romania is essential. Furthermore, the strong EU citizen support for both a common European Policy on migration and a common European Asylum system indicate that this is an opportune moment for such discussions.

Keywords

• refugees
• ukraine
• immigration
• civil society
• public opinion