Global Journal of Human Social Science, F: Political Science, Volume 23 Issue 6

diaspora associations and Moldovan migrants staying in the host country; secondly, among the associations themselves; thirdly, between diaspora associations and state and non-state institutions of the Republic of Moldova; fourthly, between diaspora associations and state and non-state institutions in the host country (Mosneaga, 2017, p.129). By accessing the website of the Bureau for Diaspora Relations https://emoldovata.gov.md/lista-aso ciatiilor-diasporei, we have determined the quantitative composition of Moldovan diaspora organizations in the EU27+ countries. In total, in EU countries, as well as in Norway, Switzerland, and the UK, there are 139 active Moldovan diaspora organizations that differ by number, field of activity, and degree of engagement Lists, 2022). Among the aforementioned countries, the most organizations are registered in Italy (51), France (12), the UK (10), Spain (10), Romania (9), Portugal (7), and Germany (6). In each of these countries the activity of Moldovan diaspora associations is characterized by certain particularities. The defining trait of Italy is a large number of educational centers, organized, among other places, in church parishes. If the first diaspora associations in Italy were concentrated on promoting Moldovan culture and traditions, the ones that came later were more socially oriented and engaged in promoting and protecting human rights. This speaks of a gradual qualitative transformation of the organizations; they become more complex, establishing networks. Yet the issue of communication among them persists. According to the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, in Portugal there are seven registered Moldovan diaspora associations, but experts list other diaspora organizations also active in the country. In particular, they note the importance of the Asociatia Culturala a Imigrantilor Moldoveni MIORITA din Portugalia, which provides assistance to migrants in legalization, social integration, and learning the Portuguese language. Recently there has been a growing interest in establishing industry-focused associations. The MOLDMED association that united Moldovan medics in Portugal is quite successful. Similar professional associations for teachers are also being established. The Portuguese authorities provide assistance to diaspora organizations that are active in the country. The High Commissioner of Portugal for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue provides daily financial aid to the most active organizations. Moldovan associations are always counted among the main beneficiaries (Mosneaga, 2021b, p. 240). The particularity of Germany is that Moldovan citizens in this country prefer to communicate with their co-nationals online, via social networks, rather than live. This can be explained by the large number of students among migrants, who study in universities all across the country and it is easier for them to communicate on the Internet. Romania is the main direction for educational migration, and as such the Moldovan community there is represented by associations that unite the studious youth from many Romanian cities. The primary goals of these associations are to promote national, cultural, and civil values among youth, to facilitate the process of young people’s integration into the host society, and collaboration with various organizations. France is on the second place by number of students. A likewise large group consists of Moldovan medics, about 500 people. In the European Union France is a country that has a high percentage of Moldovan citizens that have established their own business. Representatives of diaspora organizations in France are facing the same difficulties as their peers in other countries do, when it comes to their work. These difficulties are largely conditioned by the low level of Moldovan migrants’ engagement in the organizations’ activities. However, the majority of associations are an important source of information for Moldovan migrants, they promote Moldovan culture abroad, keep in touch with migration services of the destination countries, collaborate with different social subjects (Cotilevici, 2018, p.420). Moldovan diaspora associations exist in other European Union countries as well, but firstly, their number of limited, and secondly, they do not have a lot of members. Most often their activity is directed at supporting Moldovan culture and traditions, informing and contributing to Moldovan migrants’ integration in the destination country. Of the countries that are not part of the EU that pose an interest for our research, the most Moldovan diaspora organizations are active in the United Kingdom . Experts note that the real number of Moldovan associations in this country is larger, because many of them were established and function online (Cheianu- Andrei, 2013, p.127; Mosneaga, 2017, p.113). Moldovan students in this country are quite active, which is important as the youth are not as strongly tied to their home country as the older generations of migrants are. It is vital that the young generation not lose interest in participating in the life of their home countries. Unlike in other countries, diaspora organization members here are motivated to provide legal consulting on topics such as residence legalization and obtaining work permits, because in the UK this procedure is complicated. Another particularity of Moldovan associations in this country is the capability of obtaining financing for one’s project on their own, without asking Moldova for financial support. In this regard an important role falls to the support of Moldovan business in the UK, which relies on the British mentality of social responsibility. © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue VI Version I 45 Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 ( ) F The Transformation of Moldovan Migrant Communities into the Moldovan Diaspora in the European Union: The Main Directions and Mechanisms