This paper aims to identify current crisis communication themes for Romanian organisations facing a crisis and if they could use a domestic, tailored, crisis communication management model. Hundreds of articles have been published worldwide, but few related to Romania. The literature review and bibliometric analysis are used to identify the interest in Romanian literature for crisis communication. Twelve articles were selected on Scopus database using PRISMA methodology, on criterions like publication's rating, cite score, maxim percentile, SNIP and SJR. They were used for a qualitative text analysis and coding using software like Atlas and Bibliometrix. The theoretical framework offers solutions for crisis scenarios, considering that reputation, emotional engagement and a dedicated workflow for social media crisis are success factors. There is a knowledge gap about how Romanian organisations are reacting in crisis scenarios. This is an opportunity to develop future studies and tailored crisis communication strategies, adapted for Romania.
This article explores the strategic role of culture in shaping a stronger, safer, and more resilient European Union. Moving beyond a narrow understanding of culture as tradition or heritage, it examines how cultural engagement fosters democratic values, social cohesion, and collective identity. The research aims to explore culture as a strategic asset, assess the impact of EU cultural programs on civic engagement and resilience, illustrate these dynamics through a case study of the Republic of Moldova, and provide actionable policy recommendations. Methodologically, it adopts a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach, combining analysis of EU policy documents, scholarly literature, and case study material. Programs such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and EU4Culture are examined as tools for promoting intercultural dialogue, countering disinformation, and preventing marginalization. The findings show that integrating culture into strategic planning enhances community mobilization and strengthens the EU's capacity to respond to crises.
The transformation of European cities includes improving transport through the increasing use of digital technologies and the transition to zero emissions. The study focused on improving inland waterway transport, which is an integral part of urban transport hubs in many European cities. The aim of the study is to identify potential reserves for ensuring sustainable inland waterway transport both at the EU level and within individual countries and cities. The methodological basis of the study is the use of comparative and analytical methods, as well as the application of a cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach to the problems of implementing strategies for the integration and sustainable development of inland waterway transport. Analytical and synthetic methods were used to study the problems of inland navigation and ways to overcome them.
The Republic of Turkiye is the state that has the longest EU candidature, due to several events and policies that led to the prolongation of the process. The country's internal and implicitly external profile have faced significant changes from the 1923 moment when the Republic of Turkiye was founded, having a great impact on the Turkish society. We shall focus our attention on the ideological dimension, i.e. extendedly the set of ideas - social, cultural and political - that motivate Turks' non-integration. These aspects are related to: doctrines, identity, religion, political ideology. The main objective of this paper is to present and analyse some of the most important ideological motivations from the Turkish perspective regarding the European integration. We shall, therefore, present not only why Turkiye is not a member state, but also and most importantly, the way in which the motivations are rooted in the Turkish perception.
Wellbeing is a multidimensional concept addressed across psychology, sociology, political science, and economics. From an economic perspective, it is typically linked to income, poverty, access to basic needs, and employment. This paper investigates whether Romanian emigrants working in EU countries perceive an improvement in their wellbeing after migration, particularly regarding wages and social status, compared to their situation in Romania prior to emigration. It also examines whether perceptions differ across socio-demographic groups defined by age, gender, education, marital status, medium of origin, and country of destination. This paper is based on quantitative methods, using data from a structured questionnaire completed by 100 Romanian emigrants who currently live abroad or have returned from migration. By exploring the relationship between migration and perceived wellbeing, the paper contributes to a broader understanding of how economic and social conditions abroad shape individual experiences. It adds to both migration research and wellbeing studies, highlighting the role of subjective and objective factors in shaping quality of life. The findings provide useful insights for academic debates and policy discussions on the integration and wellbeing of mobile workers in the European Union.
The European Union has engaged proactively with its neighbourhood since the early 2000s, combining the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership with incentive‑based conditionality as to export its values and, in selected cases, the prospect of membership. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked a critical juncture, accelerating Moldova and Ukraine's EU accession processes at an unprecedented pace. This article examines their accelerated progression from application to the opening of accession negotiations within less than two years. It explores whether this shift reflects a recalibration of conditionality and the emergence of a 'candidate‑without‑deadline' status; a differentiation of pre‑accession as a strategic distancing from Russia; or continuity in formal methodology with exceptional political sequencing. Methodologically, the article is conceptual and documentary. Using a conceptual and documentary approach, it reviews EU primary documents and academic literature on Europeanization, differentiated integration, conditionality, and historical institutionalism, covering the period from 2004 to 2025.
This study examines whether the Republic of Moldova's 2018 transition from a progressive income tax system to a flat 12% tax altered the trajectory of income inequality. The research objective is to empirically assess both the immediate and long-term distributional effects of the reform. Using Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) on annual data from 2014 to 2023 and the Gini coefficient of disposable income as the primary inequality proxy, the study evaluates changes in both level and trend before and after the reform. Newey-West standard errors address mild negative autocorrelation. Results indicate an initial decline in inequality following the reform, but a subsequent sustained increase, suggesting regressive long-term effects. The findings show the reform disproportionately benefited high-income earners and weakened the redistributive role of the tax system. These outcomes challenge the presumed neutrality of flat taxes and underscore the need to reintroduce progressive elements for fairer income distribution in Moldova.
Institutionalism ranges from theories in the social sciences to political theories that underscore the pivotal role of institutions in creating regulations, guiding behavior, stabilizing societies, and supporting social development. This research primarily examines the interplay between institutionalism and digitalization in EU member states, demonstrating their interaction. The findings support the research hypothesis, indicating that digitalization is increasing the effectiveness of government. Consequently, EU member states that have strengthened digital capabilities and implemented e-governance have seen notable progress in transparency, accessibility, and institutional effectiveness. Meanwhile, digitalization reshapes the institutional structure, streamlines administration, and supports the advancement of the public sector. These outcomes may inform digitalization-centered public policies. This paper contributes to the relevant literature by revealing the institutionalism-digitalization relationship and confirming a positive link between digitalization and the effectiveness of government.
This paper deals with codification and institutionalization of deliberative democracy among member states and EU institutions in the scope of democratic cohesion in the digital era. The general approach is based on the premise that innovations in deliberative democracy triggered by digitalization and new technologies need to be institutionalized in the legal systems of member states according to a set of legal standards that stem from the EU acquis in order to maintain democratic cohesion in the law-making process. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the necessity of institutionalizing deliberative democracy processes in the framework of EU democracies. The hypothesis is that codification and institutionalization of deliberative democracy is necessary to preserve democratic cohesion among EU member states and also to guarantee citizens' entitlements. As for methodology, data collection and data analysis constitute the bulk of the research. Data collection relies on literature, and EU legislation. Data analysis is based on legal reasoning, mainly. The conclusion is that citizens' participation needs to be secured and guaranteed by means of a set of core principles base on the EU acquis in order to preserve democratic cohesion among member states. Otherwise, no rights are conferred to citizens and deliberative processes operate at the discretion of public authorities.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union has strengthened its cybersecurity policies to address the growing threats generated by increased digital dependence, including attacks on critical infrastructures, individuals, and businesses. While notable progress has been made, fragmentation remains a major challenge. Legal and regulatory advancements, such as the NIS2 Directive, the Cyber Resilience Act, and DORA, have harmonized standards and reduced disparities among Member States. Horizontal fragmentation between EU institutions and agencies has improved through strengthened ENISA competences and cooperation mechanisms like CERT-EU, the CSIRTs network, and CyCLONe, yet overlapping mandates and the absence of a central coordinating authority persist. Vertical fragmentation, involving the EU, Member States, and the private sector, remains pronounced, as sovereign prerogatives and limited information-sharing hinder coherence. This study evaluates the EU's post-pandemic cybersecurity framework, identifies structural and institutional challenges, and draws lessons from Estonia's cybersecurity model using qualitative analysis of EU strategies, ENISA and Europol reports, and academic literature.
Based on the gravity model theory, this paper studies the determinants of bilateral trade flows between Romania and its main trading partners from 2010 to 2023. The research goal is to explore the role of economic size, geographical distance, institutional arrangements and foreign direct investment stock in promoting trade. To this end, this paper constructs an extended gravity model, using the generalized least squares method (GLSAR) and introducing a first-order autoregressive correction to deal with serial correlation and improve estimation accuracy. The model introduces variables such as GDP lagged term, FDI lagged term, geographical distance, border relations, Schengen membership and EU membership. The results show that economic size and geographical proximity are the core factors determining trade flows, while institutional integration and investment also have a significant driving effect on trade relations.
The values of the European Union (Art. 2, TEU) protect Member States against democratic backsliding with a strong focus on the rule of law. In Poland, the Law and Justice (PiS) party, in power from 2015-2023, threatened the rule of law and gender equality, while advocates for gender equality fought to safeguard these principles. Using this example, this article explores structural and social-normative factors that enable or hinder gender concerns' access to the EU, starting at the subnational level. Gender representation and policies in Poland's 2018 local elections and their bottom-up translatability to EU institutions show that the resilience of EU values depends on national provisions. Furthermore, the role of the European Commission and the Court of Justice of the European Union in supporting gender equality and the rule of law display how bottom-up dissidence and top-down EU approaches interact in developing resilience against democratic backsliding in EU Member States. These dependencies show that Member States have a responsibility in providing the conditions for gender dissidence to flourish. This can be achieved through the promotion of educational diversity and the development of legal frameworks that allow traditional gender norms to be challenged at the local, regional, and national levels.
From a pluridisciplinary perspective and based mainly on the historical institutional approach, the current research explores how colonialism has (re)shaped society, the economic developments and the urbanisation of the Global South, as well as its legacy. The extractive, settler, commercial and assimilationist/ missionary colonial models are comparatively approached, considering the great colonial powers (mainly French, British, Belgian, Portuguese), and with an emphasis on the issues of path dependence and inequalities. The paper highlights the duality of colonialism's consequences: promoting economic development and urbanization, while reinforcing socio-spatial segregation, institutional weaknesses and environmental injustice. The subject is extremely relevant from the perspective of the dependence theories in international relations, which explain the underdevelopment of the former colonial countries from the Global South through the long term impact of the various forms of exploitation and domination by the Global North. Understanding these legacies and conditionalities is essential for adopting more effective growth strategies and evidence-based policies in accelerating the development of the global South, reducing North-South inequalities and adopting urbanization models in line with new approaches focused on sustainability, inclusivity and liveability.
Since its founding in 1990, the Venice Commission has advised post-communist states, including Romania, on constitutional reforms. Although Romania was not a full member initially, it received guidance during the drafting of its first democratic constitution. This research examines how well Romanian legislation aligns with the Commission's standards on democratic governance and political party regulation, identifying any gaps or inconsistencies. Given Romania's totalitarian past, special focus is placed on protecting political opposition, freedom of expression within parties, and the limits of imperative mandates. The study uses legal analysis, case studies on political controversies and Constitutional Court decisions, and reviews from think tanks-especially following the 2015 political party law reform. It concludes by proposing legislative directions to better align Romania with European democratic norms.
Attracting African youths to vocational training in Europe can help address skills shortages, while African countries benefit from remittances and returning skilled workers. However, integration challenges can hinder this approach. This study uses case study methodology to explore such challenges. It begins with a literature review on the theoretical framework of educational migration and previous research on integration of African education migrants in Germany. The focus then narrows to Rwandans who migrated to Germany for apprenticeships in the crafts sector. Semi-structured interviews with five migrants examined their integration experiences, highlighting both, challenges and mitigation strategies. Participants stressed the importance of thorough preparation before and upon arrival, particularly in learning the German language and understanding local customs, including dialects. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers and training providers to improve integration support, contributing to a more stable skilled labour supply in Europe.
Two types of categories for measuring health status are distinguished, the subjective and the objective. This study aims to shift from a subjective measure of Self-rated health (SRH) to a health index that is more objective. The research question asks about the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some positive aspects of the subjective method may be drawn from its simplicity, from accessibility of data collection, from low survey costs, from popularity, from the large use by researchers. It may be considered problematic because it relies on respondents' perceptions, which can change when reassessing health. There may also be problems with data accuracy. As for the health index, it can be recognized as easy to interpret, easy to solve econometric problems, i.e. problems related to multicollinearity. The difficult part is the construct of the index and the fact that data may change over time. This comparison can help researchers when choosing or updating a health measure, but also might contribute on health policy-decision-making.
The emergence of co-creative interactions between tourists and touristic activities has extended in Europe generating increased interest, driven by contemporary trends in tourism emphasizing meaningful, authentic experiences and direct engagement with culture and local communities. Our paper aims to reveal insights and nuances in tourists' perceptions of creative destinations in Europe. The findings are based on a literature review on creative tourism and a qualitative methodology of two focus groups carried out with 20 people in total from 13 countries from Europe, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain. Within the focus groups there were explored the levels of understanding on the creative tourism concept, European destinations associated with creative tourism, influencing factors that stimulate engagement in creative tourism experiences in Europe as well future perspectives of creative tourism evolving in Europe. A diversity of opinions have emerged in consideration of creative tourism trends and patterns and the idea of a 'one-size-fits-all' model resulted to be particularly inappropriate in terms of creative tourism perceptions and experiences. Our analysis highlights several directions for further information development on the introduction of creative experiences into tourism developments.
In the current context of globalisation, data transfer to non-EU countries is becoming an important component of international trade. For this reason, and by virtue of the right to the protection of personal data, the creation of a legal framework designed to provide adequate safeguards for European citizens is a constant concern of the European Union. Through the lens of this study, we aim to outline an overall perspective on the cooperation between the European Union and the United States of America, regarding the transfer of personal data. Starting from the exposition of the efforts made over time, in order to ensure a safety of the transatlantic flow of data, we will focus on the current provisions in force, known as Privacy Shield 2.0, determining, at the same time, the possible practical implications of them. Therefore, based on the study of the new rules established by the Privacy Shield 2.0, we will draw out the basic principles applicable to the transfer of data to the United States, the concrete effects of this act, presenting the legal challenges that its adoption brings, but also the ways in which it influences the development of international trade. Last but not least, we will analyse the likelihood of an invalidation of Privacy Shield 2.0 by reference to the premises of a possible Schrems III case. In this respect, we will present, on the one hand, the criticism of the way in which the European Union and the United States have agreed to reform the agreement on the confidentiality of data transfers, and, on the other hand, the steps taken against it.
The European Single Market (ESM) enables free movement of people, goods, services, and capital within the EU, creating a unified internal space much like a single nation-state. Key among these freedoms is labour mobility, which not only allows individuals to pursue better employment but also promotes EU integration and cohesion. This paper explores how labour market theories-the cultural perspective and the neoclassical viewpoint-influence the ESM's structure and impact on integration. Through content analysis of academic literature and EU legislation, it examines how these perspectives shape the conceptualization of the European labour market. The analysis aims to clarify whether the ESM aligns more closely with cultural or neoclassical ideals and to assess how this alignment affects the EU's integration process. The study's findings shed light on the theoretical foundations that guide the EU's approach to labour mobility within the ESM and their broader implications for European unity.
