THE IMPLICATIONS OF
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
TOURISM IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Mihai TALMACIU,
Irina Teodora MANOLESCU, Stanislav PERCIC
Abstract: The sustainable development
of the tourism in the Eastern Partnership countries is closely
dependent on solving problems of common interest that can be
managed only by promoting bilateral or multilateral cooperation
relations. Thus, appropriate policies regarding the following
areas can be adopted: integrated management of the borders and
of the movement of people (tourists), integrated management of
the environment and of the ecosystems, the interconnection of
the transport networks, the development and integration of
regional tourist markets under the conditions of environmental
protection and cultural heritage preservation, the promotion of
good practices in terms of sustainability in tourism.
The present study aims to identify
and analyse the implications of the initiatives adopted within
the European Neighbourhood Policy on the sustainable development
of tourism. For this purpose the authors made use of programming
documents and reports of the European Commission, as well as
statistical reports on tourism development in these countries.
Keywords:
eastern partnership, neighbourhood policy, tourism, sustainable
development
Pages: 9-26 | Full text (PDF) |
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SPECIFIC PAYMENTS FOR
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AS PART OF THE WATER AND FOREST MANAGEMENT IN
ROMANIA
Costica MIHAI,
Simona-Roxana ULMAN, Krisztina-Melinda DOBAY
Abstract: Water and forests play a
major role in the functioning of biosphere, their interactions
being able to provide an extensive range of vital goods and
services for the society, and, thus, significantly contributing
to human wellbeing. With the aim of offering a better
perspective of the national context, in this paper we analyzed
(1) the level of recognition of the connection between forests
and water in the policy of Romania, as extent of the EU Water
Framework Directive and other EU directives; (2) the link
between forests and water and their effects on human wellbeing
in the context of Romania in the period between 2006-2016; (3)
the description of some initiatives related to the payments for
ecosystem services in Romania. Our findings emphasized the
important role that forests and investments in terms of their
extension are able to play in relation to water.
Keywords:
water, forests, payments for ecosystem services, human wellbeing
Pages: 27-49 | Full text (PDF) |
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EU CITIZENSHIP LAW:
INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS
Deyan DIMITROV
Abstract: This article examines the
concept of European citizenship, formally introduced by the
Treaty of Maastricht. Emphasis is placed on the fact that
currently, the EU has no common citizenship policy and
citizenship issues are completely fragmented between the
national legal systems of the Member States. This study draws
attention to the challenges and opportunities posed by this
situation for the integration of immigrants and raises the
question of nationality in the EU and whether EU citizenship
should be distinguished from that of Member States? The study
focuses on what it means to be "European" in the era of global
mobility and freedom of movement and examines the
interconnections between national sovereignty,
self-determination and EU citizenship.
Keywords:
EU citizenship, immigrants, integration, nationality,
third-country nationals
Pages: 50-62 |
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THE IMPACT OF
CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA AND
ROMANIA ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Carmen Valentina
RĂDULESCU, Dumitru Alexandru BODISLAV, Florina BRAN, Sorin
BURLACU
Abstract: Given the priorities of the
economic and social development of the Republic of Moldova in
the context of European integration and transatlantic
cooperation, the cooperation of the Republic of Moldova within
the cross-border programs has priority. The European Union
supports cooperation with border countries. Considering the
fact, that between Romania and the Republic of Moldova there is
a joint Operational Program Romania - Republic of Moldova, and
in the period 2014-2020, it financed the operational program
which was, addressed to the areas on the border between Romania
and the Republic of Moldova and which has an impact on reaching
the general neighborhood objective. In this article, we intend
to retrospect this evolution and to show the strong and weak
parts of this cooperation with priorities for further
development.
Keywords:
economic development, cross-border program, European
integration, neighborhood objective
Pages: 63-79 |
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RESILIENCE OF THE EU
EXPORTS TO UKRAINE UNDER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Oleksandr SHNYRKOV,
Oleksii CHUGAIEV
Abstract: The paper assesses
vulnerability of the EU exports to Ukraine to the current
COVID-19 pandemic, which became the major challenge for
societies and economies. The main current trends affecting the
bilateral trade are discussed. A regression analysis is used to
estimate the effects of demand and supply shocks, and changes in
price competitiveness. The EU exports of fuels and road vehicles
are the most sensitive to changes in the Ukraine's GDP, the
exports of chemical products and telecommunication equipment -
to devaluation of hryvnia. The most resilient EU exports to
Ukraine included medicinal and pharmaceutical products,
beverages and tobacco. The changes in consumption patterns under
the quarantine measures also favoured stability of food and
IT-services exports. The post-factum verification of results
with the resent data confirmed most sector-specific effects. On
average the EU exports to Ukraine turned out to be more
resilient than to other countries.
Keywords: EU-Ukraine relations, bilateral trade, COVID-19
pandemic economic effects, export resilience, devaluation
Pages: 80-100 | Full text (PDF) |
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UNDERSTANDING THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE A PART OF TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME - A
KEY FACTOR FOR CREATING A SUCCESSFUL POLICY TO FIGHT AGAINST
THIS KIND OF CRIMINALITY
Ancuţa Elena FRANŢ
Abstract: The background for this
research is the alarming growth of transnational organised crime
in contemporary world. We have found out that, while many
studies focus on the meaning of organised crime and criminal
activities, little research has been conducted on the analysis
of the individuals who actually create the organisations which
involve in transnational criminal activities. We consider this
to be a flaw in the overall theoretical framework regarding the
analysis of transnational organised crime. This is because
understanding the reasons why individuals become a part of
transnational organised crime may lead to finding potential
alternatives for these individuals, so they eventually choose
not to act as members of transnational organised crime. This is
the reason why we focus this study on finding the reasons why
ordinary people commit crimes as a part of organised criminal
structures. Also, we aim at finding theoretical solutions for
offering these people the possibility to choose other way of
life than being a criminal offender. Our research is based on a
systematic review of the literature existing on this topic and,
also, on a critical analyse of the legislation which, at
international and national level, tries to combat the phenomenon
of transnational organised crime.
Keywords: transnational organised
crime, preventing organised crime, sense of belonging,
education, Iceland
Pages: 101-115 | Full text (PDF) |
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THE EU'S ROLE IN THE FIELD OF
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT. PAYER OR PLAYER IN
ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD AND BEYOND.
George-Mihael MANEA
Abstract: The European Union is a
global actor in the development sector, together with the United
Nations and the World Bank, trying to fill the gaps of the
Millennium Development Goals and to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals by 2030. By being engaged in political
dialogues and development activities, the EU can be seen at the
same time as a player and/or as a payer. The research goal of
this paper is to understand where the EU seats at the table:
payer - as Member States, under the EU umbrella, accompany the
developing countries on various projects and programmes financed
through different instruments and schemes, and player - as an
international organisation which works in synergy with the other
international partners.
Keywords: EU, development, payer,
player, neighbourhood
Pages: 116-131 |
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THE "CIRCLES OF SUSTAINABILITY"
MODEL AS A TOOL IN ASSESSING THE RESILIENCE OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
POLICIES IN THE BLACK SEA REGION
Mykola POPOV, Ivan
KOMAROVSKYI
Abstract: It is proposed to put the
concept of local economic development (LED) at the basis of the
approach to solving the problem of ensuring resilience
development of the territory. However, the insufficient
theoretical basis of the concept limits its practical
application. To determine the data characterizing the process,
it is proposed to use the four domains of "Circles of
Sustainability" interaction assessment methodology. The data
obtained made it possible to prepare a forecast for the possible
potential of the region's territorial resilient.
Keywords: LED, domains of "Circles of
Sustainability", resilience development
Pages:
132-153 | Full text (PDF) |
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ANALYSIS OF INCOME AND HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT IN THE EU COUNTRIES
Daniela Gabriela COZMA, Margareta BOCANCIA
Abstract: For the past three
decades there has been an increase in the inequality of the
income of different countries, as a consequence of unequal
progress. Starting from this issue, the objective of this study
is an analysis of the tendency to inequality of income and human
development, conducted by grouping the EU member countries in
former communist countries and countries that did not have a
communist regime between 1945 and 1990. The initial hypothesis
is that there are significant disparities in the distribution of
income between the former communist countries and non-communist
countries during the above-mentioned time range, these states
currently being members of the European Union. In our scientific
endeavour, we used EUROSTAT and UNDP (United Nations Development
Programme) databases, with the analysed period being 2009-2018.
To process the data, we used the multivariate hierarchy building
technique (dendogram), followed by clustering, considering the
GINI and HDI values, based on measuring dissimilarity, to
identify the existence of one of the two alternatives
(dispersion or uniformity) for the distribution of the values of
the two indexes. In the last part of the article we analyse the
influence of the European geographical space and HDI on the
COVID phenomenon, between 31.03.2020-30.08.2020.
Keywords: GINI index, HDI index,
COVID phenomenon
Pages: 154-171
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MEASURING FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE: FINANCIAL RATIOS VS. ECONOMIC VALUE ADDED
Mihaela Brindușa
TUDOSE, Valentina Diana RUSU, Silvia AVASILCĂI
Abstract: The study presents a
model of comparative analysis of financial performance based on
two categories of instruments and evaluates the
interdependencies between different performance measures. Based
on the information gathered from secondary sources, we
determined, interpreted and dynamically analysed the following
indicators: return on assets, return on equity, degree of global
indebtedness, current and quick liquidity and economic added
value. The obtained results allowed the shaping of two
performance profiles on the basis of which the ranking of the
analysed companies was made. In order to identify the
interdependencies between the different performance measures, we
performed a first regression analysis which indicated that the
company's ability to create added economic value depends on
achieving high rates of economic profitability. Because in the
analysed period there were major variations of the macroeconomic
indicators, we performed a second regression analysis which
indicated that the economic growth rate positively influences
the two rates of return.
Keywords: financial performance,
ratios, economic value added, companies
Pages: 172-188
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THE CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION
POLICY IN THE "LOWER DANUBE" EUROREGION: THE MAPPING OF THE
IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS' OUTPUTS AND THEIR IMPLICATION TO
TRANSITION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Valentina CORNEA
Abstract: Through its programmes,
the European Union supports Euroregions so as to help develop
joint projects, meant to enforce the economic and social
cohesion. Do these programmes of the Cohesion Policy also
support the transition processes towards sustainability? This
study examines this aspect, by achieving an overall image of the
results of the projects implemented in the "Lower Danube"
Euro-region. This work uses the method of mapping the results in
order to understand the way in which the cohesion policy
supports the Euroregions in terms of territorial cohesion and
durable development. Therefore, there are roughly analysed the
types of results which prevail and their implications in
ensuring the sustainability. This method can be adapted for
other territorial structures (towns, regions etc) so as to
appreciate the transition towards sustainability of the studied
territory. The financial support for ensuring the territorial
and social cohesion needs to be rethought depending on the
potential and social-economical characteristics of the region.
Keywords: cohesion, instruments,
projects, outputs, Euroregion, sustainability
Pages:
189-208
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THE ASSESSMENT OF THE
TRANSITION EFFECTS TOWARDS A MARKET ECONOMY. THE CASE OF
UKRAINE, BELARUS AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Mihaela LUȚAȘ, Dana
Elena BAKO, Brindușa-Nicoleta PINCU
Abstract: The `90s have been a
very difficult decade especially for the states that have been
part of the former Soviet Union for more than half of century.
Countries like Ukraine, Belarus or the Republic of Moldova had
to face new challenges and realities and to adapt to the market
economy, a concept unknown in a communist world. The transition
from a state-controlled economy to a liberal and market oriented
one was tough in more ways than one. Underlining the most
important challenges that these countries had to face in order
to be able to compete on the international market, we assess the
impact of the regional economic integration structures upon
their position on the international economic arena. Using
variables such as Gross Domestic Product, Foreign Direct
Investments, trade balance structure and the Human Development
Index we demonstrate that although it has been more than 30
years since the communism fell, these three states have still a
long road ahead of them if they want to be players on a highly
competitive market. Through a parallel study of the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement and the Eurasian
Economic Union we will demonstrate that the advantages of the
heavy industry, energy resources or the agricultural products
have started to lose ground on a market where digitalization
dictates most of the trade agreements and foreign investments.
Keywords: regional economic
integration, market economy, transition, trade agreements, trade
structure
Pages: 209-234
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MANAGING DIGITAL CHANGE IN
EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION
Dumitrița IFTODE
Abstract: The purpose of this
paper is to reveal the concepts of how digital transformation
affects higher education, introduces the peculiarities of
managing digital transformation, discusses good practices and
emerging challenges. For fulfilling the papers' objectives, the
main research questions established are: How do higher education
institutions manage digital transformation? Which are the main
challenges and solutions for the digital transformation process?
The research objective is realized through studying secondary
data from previous studies, online sources, and reports.
Therefore, the study revealed that the digital change and the
tension associated with it are inevitable and facing the
challenges through a good strategy and openness seems to be the
right way to be followed by the academic environment. Under the
pressure of current situation universities must move towards the
new requirements and react to the flexibility and inquiries of
the external and internal digital and technological changes.
Keywords: digital transformation,
higher education, managing digital change, digital strategy
Pages: 235-247
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DIMENSIONS OF DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION FOR THE BANKING INDUSTRY. EVIDENCE FROM EU
COUNTRIES
Nicoleta Gianina
BOSTAN
Abstract: The purpose of this
paper is to have a comparative analysis regarding digital
transformation among the countries of European Union, in a
regional context, in an attempt to explain the unequal evolution
of the digital financial services. The development of digital
skills, of the financial one in particular and the digital
access to banking will be analysed using economic and social
drivers of the trend. The analysis includes data from some
Central and Eastern Europe countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
for the period 2002-2019, in order to identify a best practice
of digitalization, focused on the financial banking market.
Policy makers, public institutions and non-profit organisation
involved in financial digital transformation can benefit from
this analysis and conclusions just as much as researchers can.
The question that arises is whether there is a correlation
between the access to digital services, the education level and
the use of financial banking services.
Keywords: financial education,
digital transformation, digital financial services
Pages: 248-267
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CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE MOVEMENT TO THE "BLUE OCEAN" (CHALLENGES FOR
UKRAINE)
Mykola MYKOLAICHUK, Nataliia MALYSH
Abstract: The purpose of the
study is substantiating the theoretical and methodological
aspects for cross-border cooperation between countries on the
eastern borders EU with Ukraine, as a tool for moving to the
"blue ocean" of market space. For achieving the researches'
goal, a methodology, which based on the comparison of the
results of the sustainable development conditions of the border
areas of neighbouring countries had been using. This approach,
according to the authors, will help identify problems in the
development of these areas and identify tasks to overcome them.
On the example of development forecasting of Ukraine's' regions,
the practical approach for the primary levers determining of
influence on the factors of change in the conditions of
development of border areas had been illustrating. The obtained
results and the developed conclusions and proposals will
contribute to the provision of adequate public administration
for balanced and sustainable territories development.
Keywords: cross-border cooperation;
balance of interests; instruments of influence; development
strategy; management efficiency
Pages: 268-284
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ASSESSING EUROPEAN UNION'S
ACTORNESS IN THE EXTENDED NEIGHBOURHOOD: THE CASE OF CENTRAL
ASIA
Ioan-David ONEL
Abstract: The interest of the
European Union towards Central Asia grew after 2002. Fuelled by
factors such as the region's geostrategic location, energy
resources and potential in fostering stability, the EU's
political involvement towards it intensified in the past two
decades. The paper assesses EU's actorness in the region of
Central Asia, by applying the opportunity, presence, capability
framework elaborated by J. Vogler and C. Bretherthon (2006). The
paper argues that EU's actorness in Central Asia is limited, but
it witnessed a positive development since 2002, the EU being one
of the most important actors in the region.
Keywords: Central Asia, European
Union, actorness, Russia, China
Pages: 285-302
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF
TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: EXPERIENCE OF EUROPEAN AND MOSCOW
METRO SYSTEMS
Anton DENISENKOV,
Natalya DENISENKOVA, Yuliya POLYAKOVA
Abstract: The article is devoted
to the consideration of the digital transformation processes of
the world's metro systems based on Industry 4.0 technologies.
The aim of the study is to determine the social, economic and
technological effects of the use of digital technologies on
transport on the example of the metro, as well as to find
solutions to digitalization problems in modern conditions of
limited resources. The authors examined the impact of the key
technologies of Industry 4.0 on the business processes of the
world's subways. A comparative analysis of the world's metros
digital transformations has been carried out, a tree of world's
metros digitalization problems has been built, a reference model
for the implementation of world's metros digital transformation
is proposed. As the results of the study, the authors were able
to determine the social, economic and technological effects of
metro digitalization.
Keywords: Industry 4.0 technologies,
digital transformation, transport, metro
Pages: 303-325
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INSTRUMENTS OF EU EASTERN
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICIES APPLIED IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA:
EFFECTS AND PROBLEMS
Grigore VASILESCU,
Cristina MORARI
Abstract: The paper provides
theoretical, institutional and legislative analyzes, but also
emphasizes the practical dimension of issues related to EU
instruments within the Eastern Neighborhood Policies applied in
the Republic of Moldova, including the cross-border cooperation
and the implementation of various programs and partnership
projects with the participation of civil society, etc. This
study focuses on literature analysis, on research conducted
during the application period of the EU Eastern neighborhood
instruments, as well, it is based on the ENACTED Focus Group
Research: Testing the efficiency of EU's Neighborhood
Instruments, developed by authors, participating experts from
the Republic of Moldova. The paper outlines the situation in the
area and presents some conclusions and recommendations that may
contribute to the increase of efficiency of EU Eastern
neighborhood instruments.
Keywords: EU, Eastern neighborhood,
regional policy, instruments, efficiency
Pages: 326-342
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