France and Germany ?
I am not saying the legal residency should be free. Just an easier process than now. Similar to 10-15 years ago. I think back then it had a big impact.
15 years ago the europeans gave a fuck on the residency programs, even that it was super easy and cheap and completely hassle free.
hence, not so long ago then, the DR had to do that Plan de Illegal long term overstayers,
a great thing to do from the DR's side, even that the vast mayority of those decades long oevrstayers been nothing of any valuable assett for the country.
so why to go back and do it all easy and cheap again? it did not work for decades back in the day, it wouldn't todays.
the DR want's new residents of a certain kind, with certain possessions, able to spend a certain amount of money on the process etc etc,
so crtain "others", formerly the "norm", can be kept out at the moment the DR would decide to catch and send home the ones who did not comply with teh regulations.
right now, they have way more important things to take careof and covid may give those some extra years or an extra decade,
but the DR has their rules set and can enforce on those at any given moment.