Social integration of Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia, 2023

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24/02/2022, more than 8.500 refugees have arrived in Slovenia. The war on the doorstep of the European Union triggered a unified response from European foreign policy, humanitarian organizations and the general public: it is necessary to provide shelter to Ukrainian refugees, which in a legal sense meant the activation of the institute of temporary protection as an instrument that enables a rapid humanitarian response for groups of persecuted people. Ukrainian refugees have become part of discussions in educational and scientific-research institutions as well, where it is a matter of researching the situation and daily life of refugees as well as measures of integration and functioning in the new society. The beginnings of the research on the integration of Ukrainian refugees into Slovenian society go back to the time immediately after the invasion and the immediate wave of refugees from Ukraine. As part of the course Migration: local-global dimensions (FDV, Assoc. Prof. Simona Zavratnik, academic year 2021/2022), a draft of an online survey was prepared, which was created as a sociological reflection and a desire to understand the response of national policies and personal motivations of individuals for integration or return to Ukraine. The survey was developed in the research team at the Centre for Spatial Sociology and in an extended team of experts (ZRC SAZU, Rectorate of UL) and with the cooperation of the Red Cross of Slovenia and the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the Support and Integration of Migrants. Study is financed within the framework of the program group "Sociological aspects of sustainable socio-spatial and personnel development of Slovenia in Europe and project "UL Strengthening learning and teaching for sustainable future society - ULTRA" Contemporary social risks: refugee, democracy and sustainable social development, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of higher education, science and innovation and European Union NextGenerationEU. The investment is part of the measures of the plan, which is financed from the mechanism of the Recovery and resilience plan (noo.gov.si). The survey was intended for adults who came from Ukraine to Slovenia from 10/03/2022 and which was answered by n=262 persons. It consists of 121 questions, both in Ukrainian and Slovenian language. It was divided into 4 sections: the journey to Slovenia, integration into Slovenian society, needs and wishes for the future, and demographic data. In the context of integration into Slovenian society, most attention is paid to language, education, employment and living in a new society.