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Today the EU is being confronted with internal and external economic challenges. They may become a threat of European stability. Significant strategies must be implemented for the promotion of a sustainable development reflected in economic resilience. The paper deals with the question of boosting the competitiveness of the EU via a rapid implementation of the trust-like mechanisms- "analogues" of the common law trust. It is mainly oriented on the method of a comparative analysis and presents certain prorated fruitful ways of rapid implementation of the trust-like devices in civil law jurisdictions. The outcomes of the paper will be useful for the successful planning of the European entrusting processes, because they indicate to the necessity of the implementation of the American models of mutual funds and the beginning of the utilization of an express trust, which will serve a great variety of socio-economic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of integration and future developments within the European Union (EU) covers the issues of environmental protection, sustainable development and energy efficiency. These issues are becoming a significant part of economic and social development and appear as a factor for assessing the competitiveness of the EU countries. Therefore, this paper focuses on: the implementation of achieving the climate and energy objectives in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the environmental sustainability of EU countries under the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the assessment of the competitiveness of the EU countries on the basis of ecological development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the European Union’s (EU) economic governance framework as a key component and driver of the EU - Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Considerable measures to strengthen the EMU have been undertaken in recent years. In spite of this, its effectiveness in tackling challenges that might appear especially in times of crisis, is still called into question. The creation or reformation of institutions seems to be the most efficient manner in which the Eurozone can advance policies and mechanisms meant to stimulate economic growth. We have found that the major obstacles to more efficiency are two components: 1. the political dimension of the EU – or better said political interference of MS’s to protect their own interests; 2. weak EU leadership and vision – this, together with political interests, dilutes significantly the building of institutions, creation and enforcement of policies. Ultimately the question of improving effectiveness of EU economic governance lies in the EU’s ability to build a stronger foundation for its institutions. As a modern political and economic entity, subjugated to the MS’s, the EU must maintain a balance between state powers and institutional powers, a legal and democratically accountable system of governance, the enforcement and respect of law, whilst also protecting economic growth and the right for a better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) launched in 2009 as the Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy introduced the civil society as a new strategic actor in the EU's relations with Eastern Partnership countries. The civil society's role is to participate in policy making, to suggest new initiatives and to promote shared values of partnership, such as: democracy, promoting better governance, state law, sustainable development, respect for human rights and for the fundamental freedoms. The paper is divided into two parts. In the first part, we analyse the role of the civil society in the EaP and we ask whether the increasing role of the civil society in the EaP will lead to the success of this project. In the second part, we analyse the perceptions and the attitudes of civil society towards European integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the actual context of economic globalization, tax havens represent a significant obstacle for global governments seeking to increase their fiscal incomes and a source of polarization of income and wealth. Statistics reports showed that tax havens hold at least $10 trillion in assets, money generally controlled and hidden by major players from the political and financial areas, as well as from criminal ones. The paper introduces the present situation of European tax havens, with the major poles of action. The conclusion finds the real efforts of international bodies such as OECD, to interdict opportunities to avoid taxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to give an insight into the link between corruption and the implementation of structural and cohesion funds in Romania and the other Central and Eastern European states (CEE). Although there is a great interest within the mass-media and the civil society for this topic, very few in-depth analyses have been carried out on this subject by independent researchers. This article starts with an evaluation on the various indicators and indexes that quantify corruption, continuing with a comparison at a regional level. Afterwards, the analysis continues with a brief assessment on the implementation of structural funds in Romania and the other CEE states. What we have found by analysing the corruption indices and absorption rates for 7 European Union member states is that there is a strong link between the two phenomena: states with high levels of corruption benefit less from structural and cohesion funds having lower absorption rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to highlight the main aspects regarding the rational choice theory in neo-institutionalism, and the role the EU Neighbourhood Policy has nowadays. The protagonist of the rational choice theory in the new institutionalism remains homo-economicus. The theory of rational choice institutionalism challenges the perfect rationality of the individual, rather than the principle of rational choice itself. ENP is a framework for consolidating the Union's relations with neighbouring countries and aims therefore intensifying cooperation with them in order to establish a zone of prosperity, good neighbourliness, stability and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Trust" is a versatile instrument which is suitable for a great variety of purposes. Many scholars believe, that the original form of this institution appeared in common law, while in the 20th century the process of globalization stipulated the "internationalization" of the trust mechanism. The starting point of this process was the conclusion of the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition. Initially, the civil law jurisdictions were unable to adopt "trust" structure in which common-law power and equity power belonged to separate entities. Despite this fact, in the recent years, trust-like devices have been introduced in certain economic-juridical systems of Europe. Their rapid implementation raised the question of the establishment of innovative policies. This paper will discuss the latest achievements and existing challenges based on the example of the German juridical-economic system. The aim is to make useful proposals for the successful planning of the European entrusting processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU and Canada represent the largest market in the world for the sale of ecological products attracting exports from many third countries and recording a total sale of 95% of the worldwide total market. The European market for ecological products - also known as "bio" / "eco" - in absolute figures - is somewhere around 20 billiards euro/year, and in the case of Romania, the market for those products varies around 200 million euro/year. According to European legislation, there are harmonized provisions and procedures for the import of ecological products which can be implemented in two ways: either by complying with the EU legislation on ecologic products, or based on the equivalence between the existent standards and control systems. In many European countries, the operators on such a market obey the rules established by Legislation for ecologic productions strictly. In Romania, a sanctioning system against those economic operators who fraudulently use product labels suggesting they are organic products has just recently been considered. Taking into consideration all these aspects, the present paper relies on the most recent bibliographic and statistical references in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims at analyzing the main problems of posted workers in the European Union, especially the elements linked to the relationship between national and European authorities, taking into consideration the European multilevel governance system. The research on which this article is based on is the result of a project that encompasses 9 national study cases, with the aim of understanding how the EU-regulation and national OSH systems affect the health and safety of (posted) workers in a transnational workplace. The data used are gathered through desk-research, as well as fieldwork. The study-case presented within the article is that of Spain. Muddling through the complicated and complex institutionalframework, we identified that the main vulnerabilities of the posted workers are related to the a) inequality of payment for the same work; b) poor living conditions; c) cultural and language barriers; d) lack of health insurance and different regulations on work accidents; e) poor representativeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to analyze the impact the economic crisis bursted out in the United States at the end of 2007 and quasi spreaded all over the world had on the (re) orientation of trade flows (exports) among European Union member states in general, and Romania in particular. As observation and analysis data tool we chose groupings, tabular and graphical representation. The analysis will be conducted at individual and group of countries levels. The main findings will show that although the geographic network of member states trade has been seriously shaken by the crisis, export flows orientatio remained quite similar to the period previous to economic decline. As for Romania, its exports prove to be influenced by the economic situation of the main European partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze the evolution of the Romanian banking system after the 2007 financial crisis and the country`s accession to the European Union. The first part analyzes the main elements of the banking system: ownership structure, number of employees and banking units, loans and non-performing loans. The second part analyzes the level of financial intermediation of the banking system. The results showed that majority of the capital is private and foreign, the top five banks held over half of the bank assets, number of employees decreased due to the crisis and non-performing loans share had increased by over nine times. Romanian banking system have a low degree of financial intermediation, but the new developments of the EU banking systems proved that it can be a strong point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant’s crisis of 2015 affected the credibility of the social security system built and strengthened over the past three decades by the European Union. Adoption of the refugee quotas in order to be relocated by the Member States of the European Union is a current issue that requires at least two directions of analysis: increasing the efficiency of the European Union humanitarian aid addressed to destination countries and deepening the dimensions of the integrative process of social inclusion of migrants. This article proposes to review the state of implementation mechanisms for supporting measures addressed to migration flows developed by the European Union together with candidate states and the mechanisms developed by international institutions and organization in order to provide specific measures of humanitarian assistance to populations in affected areas war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been widely argued that the European Economic Community (EEC) was based on principles of economic integrity and growth through the creation of a common market; this is not far from reality. The Treaty of Rome was full of provisions that enhanced economic co-operation and increased the sense of liberalization in Europe, such as the four, now traditional, Community freedoms. Although all the above applied, there were articles within the EEC Treaty where fundamental rights were guaranteed; more than that, fundamental rights that occurred from the Community freedoms, even in a basic level. This is of highest importance since the interpretation of those provisions gave the initiative for further development in the field of fundamental rights protection within the Community legal order, throughout legislative procedure and case law. The aim of this paper is to present the fundamental rights as highlighted in the EEC Treaty and critically approach their concept under Community law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite existing policies of regional development and cohesion at the national and the EU level, economic regional inequalities or disparities stay relatively high or decrease too slowly. In this context, policies to reduce economic regional disparities in the European Union are a constant concern both for policy-makers and for theoretical and empirical research because of the strong impact on sustainable development in general. In this study we combine elements of theoretical and policy discussions with the empirical assessment of economic regional development in the European Union in order to identify the state of regional disparities, what factors are favouring unbalanced growth in different regions of the EU and to find an appropriate theoretical setting to understand, explain and reduce with regional inequality in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public expenditure and collection of public resources generate interactions among different subjects of law, natural and legal persons, subjects of public law and private law. These interactions are the main object of the financial regulation, both at domestic and EU level. The legal relations are part of social relations and the companies legally formed are subject to the execution of the financial and fiscal liabilities, which is ensured by the state authority. Financial legal relations are distinguished from other legal relationships by the specific connection that occurs between the contributors and the state authority representative. The subjects involved and the position they have towards each other is subject to regulatory act and, if needed, court of law determination and control. In legal theory, the time of crises determine deep mutation in the legislation in force and the papers shows some of these changes and conclude on some aspects to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the monetary phenomenon as well as the effects that it induces in the social and economic life of the countries around the world have represented and still represent the subject of much controversy and dispute. The current forms of the monetary circulation organization in different countries, internationally as well, represent the result of a continuous process of changes and innovations in the monetary area. The purpose of this article is to present aspects of the monetary policy and its instruments which have evolved according to the historical conditions of each period. The paper is also a presentation of effectiveness and limits of the monetary policy instruments and their role in solving the current economic problems for which the governments seek solutions. As a consequence to the analysis, it can be seen that in most cases it uses a mixture of monetary policy instruments because, when acting in a complementary way, they have a higher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade we have seen the creation process of a common Energy Policy, which was gradually adopted by all Community countries, and has promoted an integrated competitive European energy market, increased security of supply and supported the use renewable energy sources. But in order for this policy to work efficiently, it also had to promote international cooperation with its neighbors and energy suppliers. With the view of establishing an Integrated Energy Market Organization in South-Eastern Europe, the European Community, along with nine other countries, has signed on 25 October 2005 the treaty establishing the Energy Community. Our research aims to investigate the potential of the European Union to promote security of energy supply and energy markets integration through the Energy Community. The article uses data from theoretical and empirical research on the economic and politic relations between the members of the Energy Community in order to establish the positive and negative outcomes of six year of collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During times of severe budget reductions and limitations, it becomes necessary to conduct an evaluation of the ability of the States to carry out the administrative process and to provide useful solutions developed through common policies at European level, necessary for costs abatement, towards maintaing the productivity and the innovative potential of organizations and in order to secure employment. Evaluation at the European Union level is essential to the identification of the weak elements for each state and in order to effectively provide a broad palette of services focused towards the citizens. The idea of developing an evaluation system was instituted after the establishment of a common framework of quantitative assessment, Common Assessment Framework (CAF). CAF is a tool used to help public sector organizations in Europe in the use of quality management techniques sintended to improve performance. This tool wants to be a global tool for comparative analysis of administrative performance. As described on the official website of the program, the model is based on the premise that excellent results of organizational performance, of the citizens/customers and of the society are achieved through leadership and planning strategy, people, partnerships, resources and processes. At the end of the research, the analysis of the main components will confirm the results, shown by European Union States progress in sustainable development of public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic banking is a relative young industry, with a high rate of growth, which in the last years became a highly discussed subject, due to the challenges and opportunities that it brings. Due to the fact, that in the last decade, the Islamic banking made its presence in the European Union market, too, in this paper we try to describe the main features of the Islamic banking transactions and to identify the challenges and opportunities that its brings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history political building meant also the development of the administration. Descriptions and complaints about bureaucracy in the EU are numerous, but the supra-national bureaucracy is not exactly replicating the national one. Firstly because the European organizations enjoy powers and privileges that no national bureaucracies have, and secondly, it is far too small to directly manage 500 million people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the growing importance of the cooperation for development in the European Union and the appearance of a common growing public opinion agreement supporting this kind of initiatives, it is necessary to understand if we can talk today about a true common European policy. Still covered on intergovernmental level and considered to be a part of the national foreign policies, EU development aid is still far from reaching the maximum of its efficiency. In this paper we try to introduce a new evaluation method of the cooperation for development policies and interpretation of the degree of Europeanization of the national policies, starting from the case studies of France, the Czech Republic and Romania, that will enable us to appreciate the stages that have to be completed by the member countries but also by the EU to realize a completely uniform European foreign assistance strategy. The understanding of the European development aid environment is also necessary for the elaboration and the implementation of the Romanian development cooperation policy which is just taking its first steps as an international donor [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this research is to identify the evolution of the terrorist attacks that appeared in Europe lately. In the article are mentioned the main causes that led to the terrorist attacks from France and Germany, emphasizing their effects over the 2 countries. The article brings forward the main types of attacks used by terrorists but also the number of injured persons or deaths. An essential aspect that was highlighted in the article refers to the results obtained after applying the EU-Turkey Statement but also to those regarding the transfer and relocation of the migrants in different countries. In this way, the analysis implied the selection of EU member states which received Syrian refugees by relocation together with the highlighting of the numeric situation of the persons returned from Greece to Turkey. A last part of this study assumes the identification of the personal categories who have been brought by Frontex and EASO in Greece in order to handle efficiently the crisis, which provide the expertise in the migration field. The primary question of this research is: "Is EU capable to administer the changes regarding migration, assuring in the same time its safety?". To answer this question, I identified first the costs of EU securitizing its states. I consider that the approach of this matter has a high importance since it shows the necessity of some changes meant to help European states to face the events linked to migration and implicitly, security from the last years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union, in light of developments in the field of crisis-management concepts, is still in the phase of institutional building and foundation of its own concepts and doctrines. This does not mean that the EU has taken important steps towards the creation of a doctrine based on a crystallized concept of crisis management. It should be noted at this point that since 2004 the EU has defined a comprehensive approach to crisis management. However, although conceptually placed one step ahead of NATO's comprehensive approach, operational in concept, its actual implementation has proved to be a slow and difficult process for the EU because the EU does not have a military component of its own, being much more focused on the civilian crisis management component as part of its comprehensive approach and on the idea of cooperative security, where the EU has managed to become a major player in the area of strategic interest on the global scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Parliamentary Assembly of the European Communities was the precursory body of the European Parliament, but it lacked the legitimacy the latter would gain starting with 1979, the year when the first European elections were held. The two entities differ in many ways, such as the internal organization, the competences and the connections with other European institutions, but the fundamental difference is the one that also determined the rest of the previously mentioned aspects, specifically the way their members were appointed. Although this aspect may seem solved, it will not be so until the suffrage for the European Parliament will not only be direct, universal and secret, but also accessible, assuring all interested stakeholders the same fair conditions for participation, thus eliminating all formal and informal obstacles for independent or party candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the legal steps (regulatory) taken at EU level as well as in each Member State, aimed to determine an ascent of sustainable growth, supported by a substantial degree of structural reforms. Obviously, Romania joined on the line, accounting as a responsibility of the state authorities to implement the European standards of the aforementioned nature, and also to develop and implement various (national) laws in an attempt to achieve faster the macro-stabilization and to strengthen the economic and business environment. In other words, lately, a certain enhancement of the intervention of the executive authority/government by legal means in the economic and business environment occurred, a situation determined, as we will show, by the increasing financial difficulties, to which, as we observe, were associated certain circumstances regarding the environment/sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary world the intensity of the immigration movements is constantly increasing. Countries which experience great immigrant flows are facing numerous problems which should be solved. The article studies the current immigration flows in EU countries, the United States of America and Canada and presents three main models of integration policy towards immigrants - political assimilation, functional integration and multicultural model. Separate models are distinguished for the Muslims' integration. The author examines the peculiarities of every model and examines the conclusions provided by the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) concerning the situation of the immigrants integration in 31 countries in 2011. Among all the policy indicators the first that are defined are as follows: political participation, education, labour market mobility and anti-discrimination. The situation with immigrants' integration in Ukraine is also studied as it is gaining a great attention of the authorities and the public. The measures and practical steps done regarding this situation in Ukraine in recent years are analyzed using the information offered by the State Migration Service of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the European Union, Germany and Bulgaria are united by the same values and expectations. Both countries aim to closer relations in order to insure economic growth and a high competitiveness level. The objective of this article is to present, from a historical approach, the evolution of the economic and political relations between Bulgaria and Germany. The methodological process adopted in the present analyses is of both qualitative and quantitative nature. The article uses data from theoretical and empirical research on the economic and politic relations between Germany and Bulgaria and presents them from a historical perspective. Even though they were hit by the economic crisis, the two member states of the EU continued to maintain their economic relation on a positive trend. The recovering German economy continues to help Bulgaria, which has a hard time coming out of the crisis. The good economic relationship between the two partners will continue to be successful, the trade and investment flows being expected to double until 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to absorb European funds is part of a state complex integrated admninistrative capacity, a component of a state as a whole. The analysis in this article starts from the theoretical development by studying the reports made by the Romanian Government, correlated with the European Union reports on funds and Romanian legislation. This analysis of the EU's structural funds, highlights the importance of accessing them and the degree to which Romania and member countries benefits of income support. European funds are meant to supplement a member of the Union funds to the extent that they are accessed through the projects. Money allocated on type of operation is distributed in amounts proportionate to that state needs. Money distributed will be justified by their realization of infrastructure projects, environment, transport, human resources development, rural and regional development. Theoretical research lay the foundation for determining administrative capacity in Romania from the first time of defining the concept until now. Empirical research reveals the degree of absorption of which is that Romania has in comparison with some EU countries, former socialist countries present democratic states. The absorption capacity of European funds determine the strength of a state administrative management issues in the management of monetary dated. Power in handling management administrative problems can be efficient in higher manner and it's represented by cost-benefit analysis and the degree of satisfaction of citizen interest. As public services are financially supported and developed, the degree of citizen satisfaction is greater in an implemented decentralized administrative system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the European policy in the field of research, development, innovation reflects the maturity process of the European construction, through the very understanding of the particular role of knowledge in economy. An important aspect is the connection with the acknowledgment of the professional's diplomas, which is based on the principle of automatism, on the mutual trust of the Member States in the qualifications obtained within the territory of any of them, on the tradition regarding the existence of a democratic and elitist education system. The improvement of the quality of education and the avoidance of sideslips are required. For the existence of a functional Euro-market in the field of research, development, innovation the differences between the European Union Member States have to be reduced, before attempting to catch up with the United States of America, Japan or China. Because knowledge is the inexhaustible resource of mankind in general, of the European Union, in particular, we should talk about a Union of Research, as we talk about the Monetary Union, for example. The strategy of economic growth in Romania was based on encouraging the consumers to spend money, but they didn't consider a coherent policy ba sed on innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategies for structural-systemic crisis management have generated, to a geographical level, a number of differences between EU countries. These cleavages are the result of differential macroeconomic policies. In this context, this article has the aim of achieving a comparative approach between countries of the south, west and east of the EU space. Also our approach is focused on observing the nature of macroeconomic policies and also on identifying a "pattern" associated with a common ideal -type of "rational choice" in the efficient and effective management of systemic crises. This article aims to identify areas of growth and economic stability of a particular model of public policy and political-economic ideology, to set up a mechanism for "economic engineering". From the methodological point of view, this article uses a quantitative methodology, derived from mathematical analysis, statistics and stochastic, in order to explain, understand and predict the possible evolution of the systemic crises in the EU countries. The interest lies in the possibility of giving a model of macroeconomic policy for the adjustment of inflationist imbalances, labor market and price policy, and also in regulating the equation of production-consumption [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]