With a population of 19 million, Romania is sinking into a worrying demographic decline. Over 5 million Romanians have left their homeland in search of a better life in Western Europe. On August 21, the Federation of Associations of Romanians in Europe (FADERE) launched an urgent appeal to the government for immediate measures to stem the demographic drain.
"Migration to the West is taking on alarming proportions, and many of those leaving are young people," said Daniel Tecu, president of FADERE, in an open letter to the government. "The poor quality of public services, bureaucratic corruption, lack of road infrastructure and an archaic healthcare system are all factors driving Romanians to leave their country. While the European Union is offering funds, the loss of manpower risks jeopardizing their use."
Since the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, a quarter of Romania's population has moved to Western Europe. This demographic hemorrhage intensified after the country joined the European Union (EU) in 2007. According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, many of the migrants opted for Latin countries. Italy welcomed 1,137,000 Romanians, Spain 1,087,000 and the United Kingdom 950,000. Germany followed with 826,000, and France was 10th on the list with 106,000.
This westward exodus created a labor shortage in a country with promising growth rates. In 2022, it attracted over €10 billion in foreign investment, but the companies that are setting up there are struggling to recruit. Russia's war in the Ukraine has prompted many Western companies to leave Russia and Ukraine for Romania and Poland. Although the influx of capital improved economic indicators, finding labor remains a major challenge for investors.
Every year, Romania grants 100,000 work permits to non-EU applicants, most of whom come from Asian countries. "Without foreign workers, Romania would be in danger," said sociologist Gelu Duminica. "Whereas a Romanian generation in the 1990s had 800,000 children, today the figure is just 180,000. Some of them will leave the country." Immigration is not limited to Asians and Africans – many entrepreneurs from Western Europe, particularly France, are looking for opportunities in a booming market.
"Romania is a modern, dynamic country with a thriving start-up ecosystem," said 43-year-old Grégoire Vigroux, who has created around 20 companies and heads up the Romanian branch of La French Tech. Romania is beginning to take its place on the map of investments attracting western capital. France ranks sixth among these investors, with a total of €9.7 billion (or 10% of foreign investments). The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania counts over 550 companies that have generated 125,000 jobs.
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