MOVING TO ROMANIA

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The Moving to Romania Guide is available online and has been created to help expatriate families moving to Romania.

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KEY FACTS

Official Name: Romania

Capital City: Bucharest

Type of Government: Parliamentary republic

Official Languages: Romanian

Area: 238,000 sq. km/92,000 sq. mi

Population: 22.2 million

Religion: Eastern Orthodox 87%, Protestant 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other and unspecified 0.9%

Currency: leu (L), lei – plural

Number of Time Zones: 1

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 2 hrs; Eastern Standard Time (EST) plus 7 hours. Daylight savings time observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in September.

Weights and Measures: Metric system

Country Domain: .ro

Country Tel Code: 40

AT A GLANCE

Politics

Romania’s post-Communist political system is based on the French multi-party parliamentary model with a separately elected president. The president, elected by popular vote for a five-year term, is head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. With his advisers, the president develops national policies for the government and acts as the focus of national unity.

The president appoints the prime minister subject to the approval of the bicameral legislature. The prime minister is responsible to the parliament and while he may appoint and dismiss members of his cabinet, the appointments are subject to the approval of both houses of parliament.

Legislative power is vested in a 332-member Chamber of Deputies and a 137-member Senate. The members are elected by popular vote on the basis of geographic proportional representation. They serve for four-year terms.

Economy

When the Communist regime ended in 1999, 10 years of economic instability, including a three-year recession, followed. Reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a condition for much needed loans were carried out and loans were granted in 1999. In 2000, economic reform, in an effort to make a bid for European Union (EU) membership, led to growth in economy by four to five percent each year, especially in the service sector, followed by industry and agriculture. Potential is also seen in tourism.

Many state-owned companies – including banks, large oil companies, and energy and telecommunication companies – were privatized as of 2005 and are now limited liability or joint-stock companies. Thousands of privately owned small service sector businesses have also sprung up.

Inflation has fallen steadily since 2000 and was around 7.5 percent and still declining in 2005. Both the GDP and minimum wages have steadily increased. In July 2005, the unemployment rate was down to 5.5 percent, lower than many other large European countries.

Romania’s strengths are its abundant natural resources, agricultural and industrial sectors which take advantage of these, advances in local technology, and autonomy in food production. Still, some of the older Communist regime mentalities, corruption, and red tape continue to hinder some business dealings. Poverty among the population also needs to be addressed.

Romania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in April 2004 and the European Union (EU) on January 1, 2007. Major trading partners include other EU members and the United States.

UNDERSTANDING THE PEOPLE

The population of Romania is just under 23 million and has been in decline, due to a falling birth rate and continued emigration by certain ethnic groups. Life expectancy is approximately 72 years – 69 years for males and 75 years for females.

Romania has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Europe; it also has an unusually large number of neglected and unwanted orphans with serious health problems, and few resources to spend on care and services. During the Ceausescu years, policies of social engineering had been adopted, whereby couples were given cash incentives to have children in an effort to increase population, and contraception and abortion were prohibited.

Romania is the most densely populated country in southeastern Europe. About half of Romania’s population lives in urban areas, largely as a result of forced urbanization policies of Ceausescu.
Romanians are proud of their famous countrymen, including the playwright Eugene Ionesco, the composer George Enescu, and the sculptor Constantin Brancusi.

Ethnic makeup

Romanians comprise about 89 percent of the population. Their ancestors were ancient Thracians or Dacians, who were conquered by the Romans in the early second century.

The ethnic Romanian population prides itself on roots traced back to Latin-speaking Roman, Thracian, Slavic, and Celtic ancestors.

The largest minority in Romania are the Hungarians, about nine percent of the population. Most Hungarians live in Transylvania, which had been under Hungarian rule until World War I. Although the official attitude during the Communist era was blatantly discriminatory to the ethnic Hungarians, it has eased somewhat in recent years. Romanian law now is officially nondiscriminatory and allows some cultural and linguistic freedoms. However, the commitment to a united Romanian state among ethnic Romanians is very strong, and tension with minorities occasionally surfaces.

The German and Jewish minorities, once quite large, have been reduced by emigration to Germany and Israel. Other sizable minorities include Turks, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Croats, and Gypsies, also known as Roma.

Although an exact census of the Roma population does not exist, estimates have put the percentage as high as eight percent of the population. The Roma tend to remain separate from general society, are undereducated and underemployed, are not generally accepted by other groups, and are subject to discrimination.

Cultural traditions

Unique in Eastern Europe by virtue of their Romance language and their more Latin and French orientation, the Romanians stress their cultural differences from the Slavic orientation of most of Eastern Europe.

Masterful Easter eggs

Easter is celebrated lavishly with a tradition of great feasting after the fasting of Lent, and with intricately painted eggs hidden from excited children. Peasants beautifully dressed in their colorful national costume and holding candles gather around their churches at midnight on Easter. After the service, the many flickering flames light the way home, where families clink the beautiful eggs, which represent the primordial source of life.

The Maramures

Nicknamed the “wolf people” in the Middle Ages because of their fierce individuality, the people of the Maramures mountain valleys can be seen dressed in traditional costume. On Sunday, women often dance and parade in flowered skirts, headscarves, and black sheepskin jerkins; men wear black trousers and white jerkins.

The Maramure people are known for their beautiful wooden architecture and intricate embroidery.
Farming seasons are celebrated with festivals in the main town, called Old Maramures.

Religion

The Romanian constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Romania is the only country with a Romance language that does not have a Roman Catholic background. About 87 percent of the population is Romanian Orthodox. Roman Catholics make up about five percent of the population, and the remaining seven percent are Calvinists, Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh day Adventists, Jews, and Muslims.

Language

The official language of Romania is Romanian, a member of the Romance family of languages and a direct descendant of Latin. Romania’s language was formed as a mixture of Latin and the native dialect of the Dacian people who lived in the country 2000 years ago. Throughout its early history the language was influenced by waves of advancing tribes, some of which were of Slavic origin; thus the language has some Slavic undertones.

German is also spoken, and a sizable part of the population – mainly those in Transylvania – speaks Hungarian. French is the most widely-spoken second language, due to the fact that many Romanian students study at French universities. Both French and English are commonly spoken in cities, especially by younger people.

Toward further understanding

The Romanians’ long history of being oppressed, up until as recently as 1989, has undoubtedly had an effect on the shaping of the national character and its people’s individual personalities. Romanians are warm and people-oriented, while occasionally displaying a certain suspicious nature that may be a product of the country’s past or its reputedly widespread corruption.

Romanians are very nationalistic, to the point where they changed sides during World War II, a move which they believed to be in their country’s best interests. This flexibility, along with an intelligence and savvy that are not always acknowledged by foreigners, makes them a very capable, independent-minded people.

Their Roman heritage is also a subtle contribution to their independent spirit, surrounded as they are by countries that can be described as wholly Eastern European. Prior to World War II, Bucharest, with its cultural similarity to things French, had been called the “Paris of the East.”

Yet the Romanians also display characteristics attributed to others in their geographical area. For example, they can be serious, even melancholy at times, then jovial and full of dance at other times. As one saying goes, “Romania is like all other East European countries, only more so.”

This assessment may or may not change as the country struggles away from its Communist past and toward achieving a new democracy whose economy can comfortably support its people.

General attitudes

Toward family and children

Romanians place high value on their families, in which the father maintains the dominant role. Extended families of several generations living together are still common, particularly in more rural areas.

Couples marry fairly young – in their early twenties on average – and while most women work outside the home, they also take care of the home and children.

Toward foreigners

Romanians are warm toward foreigners and are ready to please them – with the possible exception of Hungarians, with whom there exists a long-standing discord over the area of Transylvania on the Romania-Hungary border.

A Romanian’s agreeable attitude can sometimes be a hinderance in business, when, for example, an overly optimistic schedule is offered on a product or service. The Romanian often says, “Nicio problema” or “no problem.” It is the foreign businessperson’s difficult task to find out the realistic time frame for delivery.

Most Romanians share a genuine regard and admiration for North Americans. From life-style to democratic principles, from management practices to products and services, if it’s from the United States, its reputation is good. Romanians enjoy doing business with U.S. companies. However, Romanians sometimes feel their regard is not reciprocated. They are hurt when North Americans, both public and private, show favoritism to other Eastern European countries.

Toward women

One result of Romania’s extant “old world” ideology is that the role of women has not advanced a great deal in Romanian society. Women are treated with courtesy, yet they tend to shoulder much of the household and family work, in addition to holding jobs.

Toward work

In general Romanians enjoy being productive and can be assiduous, if sociable, workers. The country’s high unemployment rate has left many with the desire to work but no opportunity.
Toward religion

Romanians are enjoying a relatively recent religious freedom, because during the Ceausescu communist regime religious organizations were carefully regulated; however now people are free to worship as they wish.

Homogeneous in their religious beliefs, 87 percent of population belongs to the Romanian Orthodox Church. However, other Christian religions are also practiced, as are Islam and Judaism. Interest in religion is growing, and Romanians in rural areas tend to be especially devout.

CITIES

Bucharest, Romania’s capital city, is where most expatriates tend to settle. Following is a brief description of the city.

Bucharest

Location and geography

Bucharest is the capital of Romania. It is its largest city, as well as its political, economic, and administrative center. Bucharest is located on both banks of the Dimbovita River on a wide agricultural plain in the southeastern part of the country, 65 km/40 mi north of the Danube and 250 km/156 mi west of the Black Sea.

Its population is about 2.2 million.

History

Once a settlement on an ancient trading route, Bucharest is mentioned in historical records from the 14th century, when it was known as Dimbovita Citadel. Its name was changed to Bucharest in the 15th century, when it became the residence of Wallachian princes. Bucharest became the capital of Wallachia in the 17th century.

Greatly influenced by French style in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bucharest was a popular international destination for business travelers and tourists. Its wide boulevards, terrace restaurants and cafés, and Triumphal Arch earned it the name “Paris of the Balkans.”

The city today

Today the city’s 19th century neoclassical architecture and numerous tree-lined streets and parks still maintain its charm. Although construction during much of the Communist period concentrated on nondescript apartment and civic buildings and many gracious older buildings were demolished to make way for elaborate architectural projects, many older structures are now under restoration.

Forests, parks, lakes, and preserved green space encircle Bucharest.

CLIMATE

The climate is continental, with distinct seasons. There are long, hot summers and cold winters, and abundant snow, especially in the mountains. Humidity levels are not excessive.

Bucharest can experience some very hot weather during July and August, and few buildings are air-conditioned. Rain showers are common in the summer. Mountainous regions are always cooler.

Information provided in association with Living Abroad