A strong Romania is a state that ensures that the rights of its citizens are observed wherever they are. Regardless of distance, one never stops belonging to a nation.
The main goal of the President of Romania is to build a strong relationship between the Romanian society and the Romanian state and the diaspora, beneficial in both directions. The strategic potential of the Romanian diaspora as a bridge with other countries must be exploited, and the relevant institutions must be able to facilitate the contribution of a large diaspora to the development and modernization of Romania. The Romanian state has begun to make greater efforts to meet the legitimate expectations of Romanian citizens living abroad to be provided with services and assistance at standards specific to a Member State of the European Union.
Preserving and affirming the Romanian ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious identity among communities abroad is one of Romania’s most important objectives. Language, faith and traditional values are the link between Romania and Romanian communities living abroad.
Living and working abroad must become a matter of choice, not of necessity. The Romanian President’s goal is that Romanians living abroad should have the option to return to their country, knowing that their work and performance are recognized and rewarded at home.
“I urge you to stand in solidarity and unity, to be leaders in your communities, to be aware of the strength you have I know you dearly miss home. And the best response from us, from those of us in the country, is to build that Romania to which you wish to return!” – Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania, at the meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in Spain, 13 July 2015.
PRIORITIES
President Klaus Iohannis has proposed broadening the scope of action through which the state responds to the needs of Romanians abroad, adding to the concern for preserving Romanian identity a whole range of services designed to meet the specific needs of Romanians, both in the field of consular services and education, and in terms of returning to the country and encouraging entrepreneurship.
In addition, to support families left behind, the Presidential Administration has proposed a number of solutions to harmonize official data, simplify the procedure for delegating parental authority, as well as special programs for children left alone in Romania.
Romanians do not leave to work or study abroad solely for financial reasons, but also because of dissatisfaction with social and administrative conditions.
Therefore, the decision of Romanians to return home depends on how the Romanian state can respond to the social challenges generated by migration (labor market integration, demographic decline etc.), which can be mitigated by the increase in the quality of life and the certainty that citizens can benefit from services and conditions at European standards.
President Klaus Iohannis has proposed identifying solutions to simplify and facilitate the return and reintegration into the economic, social and administrative life of Romania.
Thus, the competent institutions are developing an integrated platform, which supports Romanians abroad on three levels: assistance, jobs and identification of opportunities on the Romanian labor market, including the possibility to call on personalized consultancy services for reintegration into social and administrative life in Romania, as well as a record of the expertise of such Romanians who wish to put their professional skills at the service of Romania’s development.
Since the beginning of his first mandate, President Klaus Iohannis’ declaration of the diaspora as a “national priority” has generated a change in the approach of the Romanian state and the institutions in charge of the needs of Romanians abroad.
In November 2015, Romania’s President enacted the law on postal voting, which had been a goal since the beginning of his first term. The importance of this law stems from the fact that it ensures observance of the fundamental right to vote for all Romanians, wherever they may be in the world. The President of Romania also supports a better representation of Romanians abroad in the Romanian Parliament, so that the problems they face can be more easily solved.
President Klaus Iohannis’ long-term goal is for Romania to reach a level of development that allows those in the diaspora to have real options to return home. The decision to live and work abroad must become a matter of choice.
At the same time, our compatriots in the diaspora are true ambassadors of Romanian culture and traditions and represent the country’s calling card abroad. Romania’s image in the world is built through the contribution of each of the millions of Romanians in all corners of the world.
Thus, on the agenda of President Klaus Iohannis’ foreign visits, meeting Romanians in the diaspora is always an important point.
