Search

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the changes in Bulgaria's competitiveness in the textile and clothing (T&C) industry after the European Union accession and in times of the coronavirus pandemic covering the period 2007-2020. In methodological terms the study uses various indicators including production value, employment, labour productivity, relative trade balance, revealed comparative advantage index, among others. Wherever possible the analysis is done in a comparative perspective benchmarking the performance of the sector in Bulgaria with that in Romania. The results show that the Bulgarian T&C industry has undergone a significant transformation in the last two decades increasing its productivity but being subject to significant jobs downsizing. While still competitive on the European market, with rising wages and production costs, the comparative advantages of the industry are gradually eroding. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the apparel subsector very hard while some textile producers which managed to shift their production to personal protective equipment items managed it successfully. However, this is a temporary solution. The T&C industry in Bulgaria is confronted with significant long-term challenges such as the green and the digital transformation, and the how it deals with them will determine the prospects of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper tries to present the origin and development of the Dobrujan question within the framework of the Bulgarian-Romanian relations. The text deals with the historical development of this question during the period after the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) until World War II. Attention is also paid to the international context of the Dobrujan issue. In conclusion the focus is on the Treaty of Craiova and its importance for the Bulgarian and Romanian signatories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper has comparatively analyzed the role of tourism in the economic growth of Bulgaria and Romania, using the specific system of indicators: GDP, employment, multiplicator effect, efficiency, investments, visitor exports, and competitiveness. The methodology was based on the formulas provided by literature at present and the data were collected from UNWTO Data Base. Bulgaria and Romania are important tourism destinations grace to their rich cultural and historical heritage, beautiful landscapes, landmarks, tourism forms, service quality and hospitality. Bulgaria has more visitors and receipts than Romania, but in absolute value, tourism has a higher contribution to GDP in Romania, while in relative value, 11.5% of GDP is produced by tourism and in Romania just 5.3%. Tourism supports employment 3.7 times better in Romania than in Bulgaria regarding the number of jobs. The multiplicator effect is almost similar in the both countries, proving that tourism growth stimulated the development of other economic sectors. Tourism increases labor productivity in the economy of the both countries, but 1.4 times more in Bulgaria. Visitor exports in Bulgaria are higher than in Romania, while investments in tourism are 4.5 higher in Romania than in Bulgaria. Tourism competitiveness is low in the both countries, but Bulgaria comes on a lower position than Romania in the international market. As a conclusion, both Bulgaria and Romania has to intensify the efforts to sustain tourism growth, its contribution to the development of the economy and become a more competitive sector. Bulgaria and Romania have to better evaluate all their resources, to diversify their offers, to improve service quality and increase tourism performance. Only in this way, a new tourism strategy could attract more visitors and increase the role of tourism in the economy and improve the image of each country in Europe and in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both Romania and Bulgaria, the 2014-2020 period is probably a defining period in the country's development, particularly agriculture, taking into account the Commission's intention to abandon the granting of payments in agriculture, after 2020. So, time is critical and highly sensitive, being the last chance to reduce major differences compared to other countries, them benefited from such support on a much higher period than countries new entrants disfavored them up to a large extent thereon. It also represents a tremendous help of direct payments to farmers, contributing to their living standards and continuing their activities in agriculture. This paper seeks to highlight the need for support in agriculture so that by processing the statistical data it can be concluded that in both countries, even after the passing of seven years, regarding the first programming period, the situations are not solved completely, so these measures should be further enforced to help farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Territorial Cooperation Programs, better known as INTERREG, support the European Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion (Europe 2020). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economic and social problems together with some opportunities in initiating joint activities between participating border regions of Romania and Bulgaria under the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme 2014-2020. Research implications that we draw from our results suggest potential improvements in cross-border partnership and projects. From the conclusions drawn, the generalizations appropriate for the future development of the cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania covering the period after 2020 can be summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These days, agriculture and also food business confront new tendencies of developing environmentally friendly options. This kind of agriculture sector surfaced due to folk's worries regarding health and ecosystem because of the new technologies. These issues appeared and recognized by the developed nations and the like, are usually firmly associated with ecological pollution along with escalating troubles of health degradation. This research compares Romania with Bulgaria, and indicates the possibilities of developing de organic farming sector. The results of this study indicate that this sector has a great potential of developing over the years, in both of the countries that are analysed. In this exploratory research, statistics data were collected from both official governments in Romania and Bulgaria, and this paper indicates the resources on witch both nations can count for developing this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accession to the European Union for Central and Eastern Europe countries involved their requirement to start the process of the European Monetary Union integration. The desire to enjoy the benefits of EU membership has made both the 10 countries that joined EU in 2004 and Romania and Bulgaria which became EU member in 2007 to engage on the path to join the European single currency endeavoring to meet not only the nominal convergence criteria but also real convergence. This paper makes an analysis of the Romania's capacity to achieve the nominal convergence criteria in the current context. The change of the financial and economic conditions due to the crisis that spread worldwide during 2007 - 2008 changed the issue from "Romania can fulfill the nominal convergence criteria?" in "Is it advisable for Romania to adopt the Euro, given the uncertainty clouds over the currency's future?" The analysis is made by considering the comparative situation of other countries that are in the process of joining the single currency. The objective of the research undertaken in this paper is to investigate Romania's capacity to approach the nominal convergence criteria and so realistic goal of joining the Euro it is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies exploring campus greening in Romania and Bulgaria are limited. Overall, sustainability-related topics and actions are more theory-, rather than practice-oriented in both countries, being particularly addressed by universities dealing with Earth (e.g., geography, ecology) and technical sciences (e.g., environmental engineering). Using literature review and an on-line questionnaire survey, the paper aims to analyse in a comparative manner how campus greening initiatives are integrated into the universities of Romania and Bulgaria, which are the main gaps and needs in terms of campus greening initiatives as well as the similarities vs. differences in implementing campus greening initiatives in both countries, with a view to outline the national specificity. The main findings suggest that universities in both countries have made a significant progress to address sustainability aspects in theory, and practice. However, a delay may be noticed in terms of framing a whole institution approach to the sustainability concept, with more singular and disparate initiatives being identified. Although the level of awareness in terms of the need for and importance of carrying out greening activities in their universities is relatively high for the respondents in both countries, more initiatives have been identified by the respondents in Romania than by the ones in Bulgaria. The main measures and initiatives associated with greening actions at university level are related to green infrastructure and waste management, which mainly contributed to increasing the aesthetic aspect of campuses and to cost reduction. There is a general top-down approach in undertaking green campus initiatives, with less or little involvement on the side of teachers and students (especially in Bulgaria), and more importance being attributed to the management body. The results of the survey can have practical implications and can be used by the universities in both countries to better understand the campus greening concept and to use examples and suggestions provided by the involved stakeholders as best practices to further integrate or promote campus greening practices in universities. • Comparative analysis on how campus greening initiatives are integrated into the universities of Romania and Bulgaria. • The awareness level in terms of the importance of carrying out greening activities in universities is relatively high. • The main measures and initiatives at university level are related to green infrastructure and waste management. • A general top-down approach in undertaking green campus initiatives with a more importance role of the management body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007. For both of them, the taking over of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union has represented a crucial moment. Two former communist countries, east-central countries, have been in charge of the Council of the European Union. The article attempts to present some perception of the French press on the presidencies of these two countries, which has engendered a series of results indicating a subjectively different approach towards the Romanian and the Bulgarian presidencies of the Council of the EU. While the former has been regarded from a critical standpoint in the light of the internal political context, a more constructive view has been adopted in the case of the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nusa Penida comprises a group of islands in the south-east of Bali. This archipelago contains a high level of marine biodiversity and has significant tourism potential. In addition, Nusa Penida has aquaculture and fishing areas, which continue to be developed. Efforts towards conservation and sustainable use by means of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide an important solution to counteract increasing pressure on natural resources due to economic activities. Zoning system arrangements to protect marine biodiversity, as well as sustainable economic activities, form the highest priority in the management of the Nusa Penida MPA. The paper provides an overview of the coastal ecosystem of Nusa Penida and the potential for sustainable utilization of natural resources, as well as demonstrates the socioeconomic condition of the Nusa Penida community. Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) in 2009 for the marine ecosystems in the waters of Nusa Penida serves as baseline data to provide inputs for defining the MPA, including a zoning system and a management plan. The ecological survey revealed 1,419 ha of coral reef with 296 species, 230 ha of mangrove with 13 species, and 108 ha of seagrass beds with 8 species. The assessment of fish biodiversity revealed 296 species of fish, including five that are new to science. Nusa Penida's waters are home to marine megafauna such as sea turtles, sharks and cetaceans, also unique and charismatic fish such as ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and manta rays (Manta birostris), that occur predictably annually. Marine tourism, seaweed farming and capture fisheries are the main economic activities for the income of the coastal community. Nusa Penida is visited by more than 200,000 tourists each year. The tourists dive in 20 dive-spots arround the waters. There are 308 ha of seaweed farming that produce more than 50 tons per month. About 850 local fishermen depend for their livelihood on the fishing grounds around the waters of Nusa Penida for their livelihood. In total, some 46,000 residents depend on the marine biodiversity of the archipelago for their livelihood. Destructive fishing and over-fishing are serious threats to the reef ecosystem within the Nusa Penida MPA, as well as to the sustainable fisheries. The lack of a clear zoning system and its attendant regulation of uses for Nusa Penida's coastal area and marine resources mean potential conflicts between marine tourism, seaweed farming and the fisheries. The establishment of the MPA with a management plan is imperative to regulate the sustainable use of marine resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The renewed interest in biomass-derived energy, which was the main source of heat and power until the industrial revolution and still contributes a significant portion to energy consumption in the developing world, is based on the premises that bioenergy can serve to reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies, boost and reduce the volatility of farmers’ incomes, develop a sustainable renewable energy basis, and cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Growing urgency to address these problems and the European Union''s global leadership role motivate the baseline assessment of the potential for sustainable bioenergy production in the most recent two EU member states (Bulgaria and Romania) and the former Soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) by reviewing the literature and drawing on available data. The paper integrates the monitoring and assessment of ecological and environmental indicators with management practices, and shows that there is still a lack of knowledge and approaches at this nexus. The main factors to be considered by the countries included in our study are: the type of energy carrier, the transportation and production processes, as well as the long-term environmental impacts associated with intensive biomass production. Specifically, the baseline assessment is using typical indicators to describe bioenergy carriers and their production and consumption in thermal or mass units as well as in percentage shares of total renewable energy produced or consumed. Our findings indicate that the potential for developing sustainable bioenergy production is generally small but with considerable cross-country variation. Only Bulgaria, Romania, and Kazakhstan are endowed with the necessary natural, climatic, and economic conditions to develop sustainable biomass productions and markets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper seeks to bridge the existing gap between three distinct strands of literature: scholarship on EU enlargement; studies of social policy in the European Union; and feminist theorising on equality between men and women. It explores the impact of the EU's conditionality on policies, legislation and institutions on gender equality in Bulgaria and Romania between 1990 and 2007 from a feminist perspective, uncovering the multifaceted process whereby Europeanisation and domestic determinants of change interact with each other in the formation and implementation of a new gender equality agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores demographic impacts on consumer attitudes toward advertising, perceived social and economic effects of advertising, and personal uses of advertising in the context of Bulgaria and Romania. Drawing on data from consumer surveys conducted in the major urban areas of the two countries, the study conceptualizes an extended version of Pollay and Mittal's model of beliefs and attitudes toward advertising. It tests a comprehensive range of attitudes toward the institution of advertising and instruments of advertising in each country. Findings confirm that men, elderly consumers, and those with higher levels of education of the whole sample hold less favorable attitudes toward advertising. Four clusters of consumers have been identified in both Bulgaria and Romania based on the attitudes, personal uses, and perceived effects of advertising as well as attitudes toward the economy and society. These clusters have value in tailoring advertising messages and appeals, and targeting strategies in the emerging markets of Bulgaria and Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments of countries undergoing a post-communist transition face the dilemma of balancing conflicting demands for greater economic efficiency (to achieve a successful transition to a market system) with demands for enhanced social protection (to legitimize regime change through a visible improvement in living standards which includes vulnerable groups). This paper analyses the transition in Bulgaria and Romania. Unlike other European countries, these countries did not embark on retrenchment policies until the mid- to late 1990s, so convergence with policies of spending constraint elsewhere in Europe was belated and partial. The social problems created by strict economic policies, exacerbated by a determination to reorganize the post-communist welfare states along the lines promoted by international organizations, are now being recognized. Post-communist governments in South-eastern Europe have belatedly started to address the social aspects of transition to democracy and the market. This probably reflects the process of regime change in Bulgaria and Romania, which has been characterized as a “two-step transition to democracy”, with liberal governments only succeeding transformed communist elites in power after a protracted transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]