Integrarea străinilor în Republica Moldova. Între provocări și necesități

Abstract

The article examines issues related to the integration of foreigners in the Republic of Moldova. Reforms, visa liberalization, and the conclusion of bilateral agreements on migration and/or social protection of migrants have made the country attractive for immigration not only from traditional CIS countries but also from Asia, Africa, and North America. As a result, greater attention needs to be paid to the cultural and socio-economic integration policies of immigrants in the Republic of Moldova. This article provides an overview of existing forms of immigrant integration (assimilation, multiculturalism, social and economic integration), analyzes the dynamics and key characteristics of immigration flows into the country over the last three decades, and offers a brief overview of national policies in this area. The article provides a brief overview of the situation of immigrants in the country and the level of their integration, addressing issues such as education and knowledge of the state language, immigrants' access to the national education and healthcare systems, and their employment/economic activities. The effectiveness of the policies implemented is also discussed, including the conditions and opportunities for immigrants to obtain Moldovan citizenship, their relationship with the local population, and mechanisms to prevent discrimination based on ethnic or cultural characteristics. Additionally, the article examines the socio-economic and demographic conditions for the development of a national integration policy in the context of the implementation of European directives as part of the Association Agreement and the country's status as a candidate for EU membership. The analysis shows that despite the positive national policy being implemented, there is a need for modernizing existing approaches to the integration of foreigners.