A REASSESSMENT OF THE MIGRATION ISSUE IN THE EU: A CROSS-COUNTRY COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH FOCUS ON ROMANIA

The study aims to analyse demographic, economic, and social aspects and identify the impact of migration in EU Member States, especially in Romania. It focuses on finding methods for more efficient migration management and faster, higher-level immigrant integration. These efforts aim to benefit both the native population and migrants. The study is innovative due to its interdisciplinary methodology. It couples economic and social research from fields such as macroeconomics and sociology with an analysis of migration policies. Main findings reveal that migration helps mitigate demographic decline and supports economic development by increasing labour force employment. The immigrants' integration is positively influenced by best practices, such as Sweden’s labour market model, which combines strong collective bargaining mechanisms, high union membership, and coordinated wage-setting processes, as well as relatively flexible employment protection legislation. The research conclusions and policy recommendations aim to transform the challenge of migration into an opportunity that stimulates sustainable economic and social development and addresses labour market deficits in Romania.