Should I stay or should I go? How a MEP addresses young Romanians’ dilemma

In recent years, surveys have consistently shown that nearly half of Romania’s young people are considering leaving the country - either temporarily or for good.

Cătălina Mihai ·

2 min read · 25 Apr 2025

Vlad Voiculescu, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from USR/Renew, encourages them to stay and build a future at home, saying Romania needs individuals who can “stand on their own two feet.”

A study published in January by the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation reveals that, beyond seeking a better life and higher salaries, young Romanians are also “pushed away” by widespread corruption and political favoritism.

Voiculescu, who left Romania at 18 to study abroad, later returned after working and studying in Austria. Before entering politics, he was active in civil society. Now 41, he urges young people not only to stay but to get involved in reshaping the country – especially through political engagement.

“I believe Romania needs mature, well-rounded individuals with a strong backbone – engaged citizens who volunteer, take responsibility, and understand their role in serving society,” Voiculescu said in an interview with Euractiv Romania.

He urges young people to get involved in politics, recalling that politics “should not be about scandals on TV in the evenings and backroom party deals”, but should be about “how we govern ourselves, how we organize ourselves better as a society or community,” in a way that “is good for all of us”.

INFO BOX

According to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation study:

Over half of Romanian youth (14-29) would like to leave the country for more than six months.
26% are motivated by the desire for a better standard of living, while 24% seek higher salaries.
Corruption and political clientelism are also major factors.
9% believe they’ll find better job opportunities abroad, and 8% expect access to better education.

The survey included 8,925 young people from 12 countries across Southeastern Europe. In Romania, almost 20% expressed a strong or very strong desire to emigrate, while one-third held a moderate interest in leaving. Youth from North Macedonia, Albania, and Turkey showed the highest emigration intentions. Similar results were found in another study by the same foundation in October 2024.

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Cătălina Mihai

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