Improving national asylum and migration system

Romania (RO)

Project facts

Project promoter:
General Inspectorate for Immigration(RO)
Project Number:
RO-HOMEAFFAIRS-0001
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€4,038,033
Donor Project Partners:
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration(NO)
Other Project Partners
General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations(RO)
General Inspectorate of Romanian Border Police(RO)
General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie(RO)
Police Academy ''Alexandru Ioan Cuza(RO)
Romanian Information Service(RO)
Programme:
Home Affairs

More information

Description

The project shall support the efforts of Romania to improve the response capacity in the instance of a mass influx of migrants, with a special focus on the protection of vulnerable immigrants and unaccompanied minors. The main activities in the project will be the improvement of reception facilities by rehabilitating/rebuilding two integrated centres for migrants, modernizing PP''s datacenter and IT infrastructure (including enhancing the capacity of the data processing, bandwidth and flows), implementing a platform for issuing of temporary identity documents training of staff, and exchange of expertise and lessons learned with Norwegian project partners in migrant''s management and technical support. The PDP will be supported by a Small Grant Scheme for information and awareness campaigns.

Summary of project results

The project targeted systemic weaknesses, including inadequate reception conditions and limited crisis management capacity. Improvements to reception facilities, strengthened inter-institutional cooperation and a modern IT infrastructure aimed to create a more humane and efficient system for processing asylum applications and managing migration flows

This project encompassed several key activities aimed at improving migration management and integration in Romania.

  • Modernization of Integrated Centres (1.1): This involved enhancing the operational readiness of the Lunga Border Police Sector (Timiș County) and the Coast Guard (Constanța) through the procurement of containers (offices, IT equipment and special vehicles). Two practical exercises, VALHALA 23 and TIBYSCUM 23, simulating a mass influx scenario, were conducted with national authorities and the UNHCR to test and improve interagency coordination, response protocols and resource allocation.
    • This activity contributed to the achievement of output 1.1 Number of integrated contingency centres with the capacity to accommodate 1000 migrants, equipped and operational.
  • Improved Asylum Seekers'' Reception Centres (1.2): A new building was constructed and equipped at the Rădăuți Regional Centre, providing dedicated spaces for various support services (recreation, physical therapy, counselling, social integration activities, a sports hall and a children''s playground). Six electronic information systems were installed and made operational at six different centres. Staff training resulted in 46 staff members specializing in legal representation for unaccompanied minors and 90 reception staff specializing in identifying and assisting vulnerable cases. This contributed to the achievement of outputs: 
    •  1.2.2 Number of facilities and services rehabilitated or newly constructed at the Rădăuți Regional Centre;
    • 1.2.3 Number of electronic information systems installed and operational in migration and asylum centres;
    • 1.2.4 Number of specialized staff with responsibilities related to legal representation for unaccompanied minors;
    • 1.2.5 Number of reception staff specialized in identifying and providing assistance for vulnerable cases.
  • Modernization of GII’s IT Infrastructure (1.3): Ten internal systems for issuing temporary identity documents were purchased, and a unified system was implemented, interconnected with the GII’s Integrated Foreigners Management System (SIMS). This streamlined document issuance and enhanced security. Improved access to SIMS databases was granted to 28 national and international entities. The GII Data Centre underwent a technical upgrade, improving data delivery and system access speed by over 15%. This resulted in the fulfillment of outputs: 
    • 1.3.1 Number of GII units with improved access to internal systems for issuing temporary documents;
    • 1.3.2 Number of national and international entities with improved access to GII databases; 
    • 1.3.3 Increase in data transmission speed between GII units and the Data Centre.
  • Thematic Training Sessions (1.5): 1819 personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were trained on various aspects of migration management through a variety of methods (training sessions, study visits  and EASO training activities).
    • This comprehensive program equipped staff with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective migration management, fulfilling output 1.5 Number of trained personnel.
  • Identifying and Increasing Tolerance (1.8): A national survey, using semi-structured interviews, was conducted to assess public perception of foreign citizens.
    • This research informs strategies for promoting tolerance and acceptance, contributing to output 1.8 Number of national studies implemented.
  • Improved Cooperation Framework (1.9): 24 regional consultations were implemented, facilitating regular meetings of local support teams promoting social integration of foreigners with international protection or residence rights, as well as EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
    • This contributed to output 1.9 Number of regional consultations implemented.

 

The impact and beneficiaries for each project activities are:

  • Modernization of Integrated Centres (1.1):

    • Impact: Enhanced operational readiness of border/coast guard centers, improving capacity to manage potential mass influx scenarios. Improved interagency coordination and resource allocation.
    • Beneficiaries: border police, coast guard personnel, potential migrants, national authorities involved in crisis management.

  • Improved Asylum Seekers'' Reception Centres (1.2):

    • Impact: Improved living conditions and access to support services for asylum seekers at the Rădăuți Centre. Enhanced capacity to identify and assist vulnerable cases, especially unaccompanied minors.
    • Beneficiaries: Asylum seekers, particularly vulnerable individuals and unaccompanied minors, reception center staff.

  • Modernization of GII’s IT Infrastructure (1.3):

    • Impact: Streamlined document processing, enhanced security features, and improved data access for national and international partners. Increased efficiency and interagency cooperation.
    • Beneficiaries: GII staff, national and international law enforcement agencies, other entities requiring access to migration data.

  • Thematic Training Sessions (1.5):

    • Impact: Increased knowledge and skills of personnel involved in migration management, leading to more effective and informed practices.
    • Beneficiaries: Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel (including GII, Border Police, General Inspectorate of Romanian Police and the National Agency Against Trafficking of Persons), migrants, asylum seekers.

  • Identifying and Increasing Tolerance (1.8):

    • Impact: Increased understanding of public perception of foreigners, informing strategies to promote tolerance and social cohesion.
    • Beneficiaries: policymakers, NGOs working on integration, the general public.

  • Improved Cooperation Framework (1.9):

    • Impact: Strengthened local support networks for integrating foreigners, promoting social inclusion and cohesion.
    • Beneficiaries: Foreigners with international protection or residence rights, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, local communities, NGOs working on integration.

Summary of bilateral results

Collaboration between General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) strengthened bilateral relations and fostered long-term cooperation. UDI expertise was instrumental in training GII experts and national partners in crisis management, vulnerable case identification and assistance, country of origin information utilization and the implementation of EASO training modules. Study visits and good practice exchanges in Norway provided GII experts with valuable insights into legal representation of unaccompanied minors, psychological and social work support, IT&C systems, transit centre management and migration and crisis management. Partnerships with other Norwegian entities, including the National Identity Centre, the Police Immigration Service and the ID Centre, provided specialized expertise in emergency plan development, legal representation for unaccompanied minors, document fraud detection, advanced interrogation techniques, and identifying signs of radicalization. These partnerships facilitated knowledge transfer, created expert networks and ultimately strengthened bilateral relations.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.