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This paper presents the development potential of bioeconomy in Romania, in the context of European Union membership. The paper presents the concept of bioeconomy and an overview of the documents referring to the bioeconomy sector in the European Union and in Romania. Many European Union countries, including Romania, emphasize the importance of bioeconomy in many official documents, but they have not developed a complex strategy for this sector. Romania has one of the largest agricultural sectors in Europe and a strong chemical industry. These sectors, together with the food industry, wood processing, pulp and paper industry can contribute to the development of bioeconomy in Romania, creating high value-added and environmentally friendly products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The academic context of Romanian higher education music lecturers has not yet completely overcome the influence of the socio-political scenario from before the fall of the communist system. This contributes to the international isolation of Rumanians higher music education, marginalising its institutions from the European Higher Education Area. This paper presents a study featuring the opinions of 470 Romanian university lecturers at eight higher institutions regarding the overall situation of higher music education. About seventy percent of participants stated that the current higher education system is worse than 30 years ago. A cluster analysis showed that the most important challenges facing the Romanian education system are insufficient funding and the need to promote more postgraduate studies. The situation described could be useful to revise the curriculum in order to align Romanian higher music education with the standards of the European Higher Education Area.

The paper aims to make a comparison between the national situation and the realities related to the consumption of milk and dairy products at global and community level. For this purpose, total consumption and consumption per capita at the general level of the product group, for milk, butter and cream respectively, were used as indicators. At national level, total consumption reached 4,935 thousand t (average of the period 2017-2019), of which milk held 4,905.67 thousand t, butter 23.67 thousand t and cream 5.67 thousand t. Worldwide, Romania accounted for an average of 0.58% of total milk and dairy consumption, 0.59% of milk consumption, 0.21% for butter consumption and 0.16% in case of cream consumption. Related to the Community context, Romania held shares of about 3.30% regarding the total consumption of milk and dairy products, 3.38% for milk consumption, 1.37% for butter consumption and 0.24% for cream. If we refer to the situation of consumption per capita, there are averages of the indicator, as follows: 233.54 kg - total consumption, 232.04 kg - milk consumption, 1.20 kg for butter and 0.30 kg for cream. Reported worldwide, Romania exceeded 3.23 times the total consumption of milk and dairy products and 3.29 times the consumption of milk and in case of butter and cream only 82.19 and 66.67% beside the global level of the indicator were achieved. unlike European Union, Romania exceeded consumption at the general level of the product group and for milk, but for butter and cream the situation was unfavorable (about 1/3 of the Community consumption for butter and only 6.05% for cream). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores linguistic landscapes and the enactment of public visibility and presence of non-majority linguistic groups in EU member states. Non-majority linguistic groups gain power, visibility and presence through the introduction of bilingual or multilingual signposts on roads, streets, squares, and public buildings in towns and cities where a given linguistic group represents a significant population share. The article offers a comparative analysis of language policies of EU member states regarding enactment of official bilingual or multilingual signs in public space. Twenty EU member states have signed the "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages," while 17 members have ratified it. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, an integral party of the Lisbon Treaty, stipulates that language diversity is one of the fundamental values respected by the EU. Hence, this comparative research assesses various practices employed by member states in relation to the proclaimed values of multilingualism. Consequently, the paper depicts and compares different language policies that produce linguistic landscapes in EU member states. Finally, it tries to determine whether there is a convergence towards a common EU policy on bilingual and multilingual signs in public space.

The paper aimed to analyze the dynamics of livestock and milk and meat production in the top five EU countries growing sheep and goats: Spain, Romania, Greece, France and Italy. The empirical data from Eurostat and Faostat for the period 2012-2021 were processed using usual methods and procedures like fixed basis and structural indices, trend regression equation, determination coefficient and points method. The comparison between these five countries pointed out the decline of sheep number in four countries, except Romania and the decrease in goats number in Greece and Spain, but an increase in Romania, France and Italy. Ewe milk production increased in three countries, except Spain where it remained relatively constant and Romania where it declined. Goat milk production raised in three countries, except Greece and Romania. Sheep meat output increased in France and Spain, but in the other countries went down, while goat meat output increased only in Spain, the other four states recording a decline. In the year 2021, these five countries all together counted 46.1 million sheep, representing 76.% of the EU sheep livestock, and also they had 9.4 million goats, meaning 82.1% of the EU goats livestock. In 2020, all these countries produced 2.73 million tonnes sheep milk and 1.87 million tonnes goat milk, accounting for 1.7% and respectively 1.16% in the EU milk output. These counties also contributed by 85% to the EU sheep and goat meat production. This reflects the importance of small ruminants in the EU animal livestock and production. These species have to help the EU for greening agriculture, as they could valorize natural resources from the mountains and less favored areas and also could be grown in organic farming system, assuring jobs and income to the local population, food security and at the same time contributing to the biodiversity preservation and production of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper analyzed the dynamics of cultivated area, production and yield in vegetal sector of Romania's agriculture in the period 2007-2020 and also in the decade 2014-2020 versus 2007-2013 in order to quantify the effects of the implemented agricultural strategy aligned to the EU CAP. The data from National Institute of Statistics were processed using fixed basis indices, structural indices, growth rate, mean, regression models, R square and comparisons between the two decades. In 2020, Romania had 8,263,672 ha cultivated by +6.25% more than in 2007. Crop structure included: cereals 64.6%, oil plants 20.3%, vegetables 2.4%, leguminous plants 1.3% and 1% potatoes. The area cultivated with cereals raised by +4.07% reaching 5,338,067 ha in 2020, of which maize and wheat 87.9%. In the decade 2014-2020 versus 2007-2013, it was registered a larger total cultivated area and also with cereals (wheat and maize), leguminous crops, oil crops (sunflower), but a reduced area with vegetables and potatoes. Cereals production increased by +132.29% accounting for 18,153,714 tons in 2020, of which maize 55.61% and wheat 35.2%. In the period 2007-2020, important production gains were carried out in leguminous grains, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables, but potatoes production declined by -49.63%. In the period 2014-2020 versus 2007-2013, production gains were registered in cereals, wheat, maize, leguminous grains, in oil seeds, sunflower seeds and fruits, but losses by -4.14% in vegetables and -21.26% in potatoes. In 2020 versus 2007, yield level was accounted for 3,400 kg/ha cereals (+123.24%), 2,966 kg/ha wheat (+92.47%), 3,977 kg/ha maize (+160.61%), 1,858 kg/ha sunflower seeds (+184.09%), 15,843 kg/ha potatoes (+15.95%), 21,858 kg/ha tomatoes (+57.07%). In the period 2014-2020 versus 2007-2013, yield gain accounted for: +50.08% cereals grains, +44.7% wheat, +54.18% maize, +61.5% sunflower seeds, +13.13% potatoes and +12.83% tomatoes. In conclusion, the implementation of Romania's strategy of agriculture development in the vegetal sector aligned to CAP has resulted in higher productions and yields of the analyzed groups of crops, except potatoes production which declined by about 50% in 2020 compared to 2007, and also, in the 2nd decade 2024-2020 versus 2007-2013, it was registered a decrease by -4.14% in vegetables and by -21.26% in potatoes, which is justified by the decline in cultivated area. This performance is due to the efforts made by farmers to obtain better results in their business and to the financial support given by the EU and Romanian Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the impact of geopolitical factors, and in particular the collapse of Communism and EU accession, on language education policy and practice in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). CEE is understood here as referring to the former soviet-controlled, eastern bloc counties of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. A particular focus is placed in this paper on the teaching of English and Russian as foreign languages in Hungary and the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The paper begins by reviewing current thinking in the field of language education policy and practice. It then provides an overview of developments in language education policy and practice in CEE more generally before focussing on two case-studies of language education policy and practice in Hungary and the former GDR. Implications both for language education policy and practice in CEE and for the nature of research in this field are discussed.

The global economy experienced one of the most significant economic contractionsdue to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Romanian economy, which is strongly integrated into the European Union, contracted by over 10 percent in the second quarter of 2020, the strongest quarterly contraction in the last 25 years. Moreover, Romania's industrial structure still has to converge with that of the European Union, as it has a higher weight of low-technology manufacturing compared to other EU countries making it more vulnerable to the COVID-19 shock. In this context, this paper analyzes the dynamics of production and employment in the lowtechnology activities specific to the Romanian manufacturing industry and compares the dynamics in Romania with the main economies in the region and the EU average. The impact of the COVID-19 shock is also captured through an autoregressive vector model, which indicates a strong impact, especially for low-technology activities, which are more vulnerable to mobility restrictions and the acceleration of digitalization trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of the European Union's interest in creativity and innovation, this paper, drawing on data from the EU project Creative Little Scientists (2011-2014), explores the teaching and learning of science and creativity in Early Years education. The project's conceptual framework, developed from detailed analysis of relevant literatures, highlighted the potential existence of a number of pedagogical synergies between inquiry-based science and creativity-based approaches in Early Years education. The science and creativity literature reviews were thus re-examined to identify synergistic features of teaching and learning in the Early Years. These were seen to include: play and exploration, motivation and affect, dialogue and collaboration, problem-solving and agency, questioning and curiosity, reflection and reasoning, and teacher scaffolding and involvement. Field work undertaken over a 4-month-period in 48 sites across the 9 partner countries provided the opportunity to examine the existence of these synergies in Early Years settings and primary classrooms with learners aged 3-8 years. Qualitative in nature, the fieldwork was framed by a case study strategy encompassing multiple methods of data collection: sequential digital images capturing interactions; observations supplemented by audio recording; timelines; and interviews with teachers and groups of children. The data set comprised 71 cases in early science (and mathematics), with 3 episodes of activity per case encapsulating creativity in these domains, resulting in 218 episodes for analysis. A deductive-inductive analytical approach was undertaken in two phases with cross-case analysis both within and between countries. The paper exemplifies the pedagogical synergies innovatively identified in the conceptual framework and documented in the fieldwork, and highlights the potential for creativity in exploratory science contexts. Additionally, it highlights differences between practice observed in preschool and primary settings and advances a new conceptual definition of creativity within Early Years science education.

The survey of the structure of farms is carried out by all the member states of the European Union, with agricultural holding as the statistical unit of measure. Thus, all the member states of the European Union are based on the definition of agricultural exploitation where it is mentioned that "agricultural exploitation means a single unit, both from a technical and economic point of view, with a single management, which carries out its agricultural activities on the economic territory of the EU, either as a primary activity or as a secondary activity". The purpose of the paper is to highlight the evolution and importance of studying agriculture, more specifically agricultural holdings, by performing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the specialized literature. Thus, to achieve the proposed goal, the web of science database was accessed in order to perform a bibliometric analysis. Thus, following the application of the bibliometric analysis, it can be argued that this sector has been given considerable interest, as evidenced by the high number of articles published recently, regarding the analysis of agricultural holdings. By querying the mentioned database, 26,804 scientific articles were found after the phrase "agricultural farms". Most such papers were published by authors from the US (28.4% of the total number of papers) and China (18.7% of the total number of papers) in the Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (1.52%) and Acta horticulture (1.39%). Because this topic of agricultural holdings is vast and many countries are involved in approaching it in different ways, further studies are recommended on analyzing the evolution and importance of agricultural holdings in different countries and identifying the discrepancies between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green and circular economy is associated with the sustainable development concept and is an integrated part of the development strategies of all EU Member States. In line with the Union's objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 under the Green Deal, the European Commission proposed in March 2020 the first package of measures for the transition to a circular economy, included in the Circular Economy Action Plan. The Plan includes measures for encouraging the production of sustainable products, informing consumers about the green transition, reviewing building materials regulations, and a strategy for sustainable textiles. Against this background, this paper aims to present a comparative analysis of the green and circular economy principles implementation in Romania and the European Union. One of the conclusions of the paper is that even if some progress has been made in the last decade, the implementation of green and circular economy principles in Romania is still at the beginning of the road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural area has faced and continues to face countless challenges regarding the lack of financial resources, the way to use material and human resources, labor productivity and labor mobility. Although Romania is a rich country in natural resources, the rural environment being predominant and having an old tradition in agriculture, certain factors stop or make rural development quite difficult. The present study aims to identify and analyze these factors that make rural development less than desired, ways to finance human resources through programs dedicated to the rural environment so that people who earn income from subsistence agriculture can also develop in non-agricultural fields, can achieve a performing agriculture and helps the economic and social growth of the Southwest Oltenia region. An important source of financing for the rural environment is funds from the European Union, which also contribute to the development of human resources in the area. To begin with, we considered the statistical analysis of the data on the evolution of the resident population in the region, the employed population, the net monthly salary that people in the region obtain according to the branches of the national economy, but also statistical data related to unemployment. Thus, for an overview of the existing situation, we continued with a SWOT analysis of the regions in order to establish investment priorities. Another important point in the paper, which helps us to observe the contribution of European funds to rural development, is the degree in care of the measures of the National Rural Development Program accessed as well as certain factors that made submeasure 1.1. to be poorly accessed. The conclusions of the study show that the South-West Oltenia region has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, with a population that, living mostly on the income obtained from subsistence agriculture, is in acute need of funds, additional training and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyse how the increase in the fertiliser usage in Romania in the last years, 2010-2022, made change in the imports value of these products. For this purpose, it was analysed first the recent evolution of fertiliser usage in Romanian agriculture, and then the impact on imports, using data provided by the European Commission and the International Trade Centre. The results of the quantitative analyse indicated that Romania is highly dependent of external markets in order to cover its internal needs for the usage of these products in agriculture. Both usage of natural and chemical fertilisers increased in the analysed period, and the poor internal production conducted to a very high annual growth rate of the imports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economy of Romania is changing quickly, and small and medium-sized enterprises are at a stage where implementing artificial intelligence could make all the difference. Small and medium enterprises that do not have sufficient cash or specialised knowledge find this hard to apply, according to the literature. This paper tries to connect the dots by analyzing the relationship between small and medium enterprises and artificial intelligence in Romania through document analysis and a case study of Exonia, a group of Romanian companies that successfully implemented artificial intelligence in their businesses. The methodology also entails the analysis of graphs based on the digital economy and society index, exemplifying the latest information regarding the position of Romania in respect of small and medium-sized enterprises (and not only) that implemented artificial intelligence compared to the other countries in the European Union. Exonia's example shows how small and medium enterprises can make artificial intelligence an opportunity to obtain more efficient operations and happier customers. This paper was co-financed by The Bucharest University of Economic Studies during the PhD program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to identify the main aspects of digitalization in the EU and Romania at present, in general, and emphasizing on agriculture, because in this sector has a deep impact on infrastructure and work resources. The EU average for DESI index quantifying digital economy performance was compared with the index in the member states to show the differences in the performance of the digital economy. The aspects related to the impact of digitalization in agriculture from many points of view, but mainly on human resources have also been highlighted. Index scores differ from one country to another and reflect the performance result of the efforts that each member state has made to implement digital economy. The higher the index value, the higher the digital economy performance in that country. During the period 2017-2022, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden have maintained their top position in the EU, while Romania and Bulgaria are situated on the last places. Romania should be focused on the improvement of digital infrastructure, promotion of digital competences, innovation and entrepreneurship in order to increase its performance in digital economy. Major efforts should be done to improve connectivity, educational programmes in digital competences and to develop a favourable business environment for contributing to its digital transformation and integration into the EU digital unique market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its accession to the European Union, Romania has been working to strengthen its support for area-based approaches in local development, including the implementation of the LEADER approach. This has been made possible through increased financial support and the establishment of Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country. The growing number of LAGs in Romania indicates an increasing recognition of the importance of bottomup approaches and local empowerment. LAGs serve as platforms for collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society organizations, and businesses. They enable communities to take ownership of their development processes and design strategies that are tailored to their specific contexts. This paper presents a comparative analysis of LEADER programme implementation in Romania in two programming periods (2007 - 2013 and 2014 - 2020), from the point of view of territorial distribution of funds, type of projects and beneficiaries, using choropleth maps with data at NUTS3 and LAU2 level. The results of the analysis show a modification of the behaviour of public and private beneficiaries, willing to involve their own funds in the realization of their projects, and the LAGs maturity in financing innovative projects and projects that develop existing businesses. The article proposes future research of LEADER impact at national and regional levels from the social return perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional training and consulting systems in the field of plant protection, and not only, are of particular importance for our country in the context of agricultural policies developed at the level of the European Union. The particularities specific to the implementation of community policies in Romania must be reflected in the level of specialization of agricultural specialists regarding their skills. Agricultural consultancy services represent a vital element in the field of informational and technological transfer in agriculture, providing farmers with information that can contribute to improving their standard of living and that of the rural population. From the research carried out, it appears that Romanian farmers need specialized consultancy in three directions: 1) preparation for accessing European Rural Development Program funds; 2) streamlining plant and animal production; 3) facilitating access to consultants on legal issues, cadastre, feasibility studies, marketing, management, etc. The paper also presents results regarding plant protection products used by farmers in Ilfov county in 2020. The purpose of the paper is assess the farmers knowledge where they could find valuable information to their problems regarding plant protection as reflection of their training level and of the efficiency of the consultancy system in Romania. The working method consisted of a sociological survey and an opinion poll. For technical advice, 28.0% of the surveyed farmers would turn to the Agricultural Directorate. For the use of plant protection products, 51.0% of farmers turned to their delivery company. An important shoulder of farmers, 71.0%, are not aware of the National Action Plan regarding the reduction of risks associated with the use of plant protection products. Most of the farmers, 45.0%, would turn to a private consultant to receive support in accessing European Rural Development Program funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower is the most important oil crop practiced in Romania, in terms of the constituent indicators of the primary supply, but also by the fact that sunflower seeds have a surplus trade balance at national level. Culture has a high productive potential, it comes to exploit the existing opportunities on the market, in terms of existing opportunities nationally and internationally. Over time, Romania has been a dynamizing factor of scientific research in the field, highlighting the concerns of researchers from National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (INCDA) Fundulea for the creation of a quality genetic material. It should be noted that the favorability of sunflower cultivation is quite pronounced at EU level, both due to the pedoclimatic conditions and due to the existing traditions in certain areas (less tradition in the extreme Southern part of the EU), for the practice of other crops providing raw materials for obtaining oil or consumption habits of the population (olive - in the Mediterranean area). The topic of this paper was approachd based on the existing global and continental context for the period 2007-2019. The results showed that in this period 2007-2019, Romania cultivated (on average) 3.81 and 5.39 of the world and European area respectively (966.84 thousand ha compared to 25,325.47 and 16,298.01 thousand ha respectively), achieved 4.62 and 6.79% of the total production (1,919.96 thousand tons compared to 41,548.57 and 28,296.81 thousand tons). The importance on the international market is highlighted by the fact that Romania held 22.52 and 26.97% of the world and continental volume of exports (1,070.99 thousand tons compared to 4,755.42 and 3,971.52 thousand tons), and for imports, the shares were 3.96 and 6.05% (183.47 thousand tons compared to 4,629.84 and 3,220.90 thousand tons respectively). Romania is not an important player in the market of this product at European and global level, especially since sunflower seeds can reduce the deficit of the external trade balance, given the appropriate use of the specific national potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural development is the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union (EU), with the role of helping the rural areas of the EU and implicitly Romania to address the economic, environmental, and social challenges they face. The purpose of the research included in this paper is to demonstrate the contribution of the LEADER approach to rural development in Romania, with an emphasis on the North-East Development Region. At the same time, the aim was to highlight the innovative nature of this approach: what it means, how it can be applied, and how it was applied. The data studied through the analysis carried out show that the Romanian territory and, implicitly, the North-East Development Region is poor, fragmented, depopulated, or in the process of depopulating, with few opportunities for young people. The innovative character of the LEADER Programme in Romania and implicitly the North-East Development Region results from the degree of novelty that an investment financed through it brings to the targeted territory, without being limiting and without necessarily presupposing a technological innovation, because the innovation must be evaluated relative to the local situation. The main instrument through which the principles of the LEADER approach can be implemented is the Local Action Group. It is the main driving force behind the activities to be carried out in the territory and which will lead to their implementation. The Local Action Groups set up in the North-East Region provide a common communication framework for local communities to develop and implement Local Development Strategies by initiating, developing and financing projects at local level. They contribute to the unity of local communities and their participation in local development. LEADER approach has brought and how its innovative character is highlighted. The questions that informed its development were: Is this concept considered as a model for sustainable rural development in Romania and the N-E Region? Is LEADER a truly innovative approach. In order to achieve the proposed goal, a multi-step working procedure was developed to allow the collection of target data and additional data derived from the initial target data. Thus, the working procedure was structured in the following steps: problem identification and conceptualization, literature review, document structuring, strategy selection, operational planning, data calculation, and interpretation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in this work. Thus, from a quantitative point of view, the following research methods were considered relevant for obtaining data: administrative data analysis. As a qualitative method, a bibliometric analysis was carried out, i.e., the literature on sustainable rural development through the use of support measures was analysed by means of the VOSviewer programme, using the Web of Science collections database. Without the implementation of the LEADER Programme in Romania and implicitly in the North-East Development Region, rural areas may be deprived of funding that determines the improvement of conditions in that area, but efforts in the field of implementing sustainable rural development measures must be continued so that the effect of this funding is really visible. Thus, the results of the research carried out in the North-East Development Region of Romania add additional value to the information published in previous studies through proposals for rural reform and concrete examples of innovative projects implemented there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documents, in particular identity cards, mediate relationships between individuals and institutions. Their materiality matters and actively impacts how states govern populations and their movements. In this paper, I examine one such object, the Romanian identity card. Focusing on its temporality and agency, I explore how objects and technological procedures enact race. In Romania, people without an address or proof of residence—many of them members of segregated Roma communities living in deep poverty—can only receive a temporary identity card, the Carte de Idenititate Provizorie (CIP). CIP holders do not enjoy full citizenship and are deprived of various rights, such as the right to travel without a passport within the European Union. They are also exposed to heightened surveillance as they must apply annually for a new CIP. Starting from the material object of the CIP, I explore how race comes into being as a relation at the intersection of various temporalities that are folded into the rules and bureaucratic practice entailed in its issue. I offer the concept of "permanent temporality" to analyze how racialization occurs in practices of governing people and their movement in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of rural development is of utmost for countries such as Romania. In the current climate of tension generated by the post-pandemic recovery and geopolitical turmoil, rural development has been more important than ever. We are living in a time of great structural duress and the solutions are becoming more political as the effects of the policy are political ones. There is a transformation of the policy into politics as the Common Agricultural Policy and the Rural Development policy by any other name would still be politics. In this context, the flexibilization provided by the National Strategic Plan is more than welcome. The purpose of the paper is to analyse how the policy elements from CAP are turning into politics and are influencing the Member States politics. As the CAP post-2020 unfolded new tools such as the National Strategic Plan were added to the EC toolbox, but often their design was influenced by national specificities. The paper performs a desk review analysis of the existing sources and has a case study the way in which this process unfolded in Romania. What is of importance in all that time-consuming process is the fact that for the first time we witnessed a large-scale reflection process throughout the European Union member states. It was partially favoured by the COVID-19 pandemic which put everything on hold for a couple of months. That combined with the need to reform made everything more democratic and more advanced and reformist than the initial proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new framework for assessing the innovation capacity and efficiency in Romanian small enterprises and start-ups. In this sense, a systematic literature review has been employed in order to obtain a clear understanding of the existing knowledge and to critically evaluate the existing solutions. In addition, considering the European Union objectives regarding innovation and sustainable development, this paper investigates the present situation of Romania by interpreting the official European Commission reports and current research papers. Considering the importance of regional innovation advancement and that of creating economic growth through competitiveness, this paper scrutinizes several concepts from the scientific literature, including regional innovation governance, entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency with the final purpose of developing a framework applicable for Romania. Taking into consideration the relatively low scores of Romanian regions regarding innovativeness and technological advancement, this paper attempts to provide a clearer understanding of the applicable factors that can be used for measuring innovation performance. The proposed framework focuses on the importance of entrepreneurship and the development of new business models in order to efficiently assess the innovative endeavors of enterprises. All things considered, this paper provides both theoretical and managerial contributions and possibility for further investigations addressed at specific Romanian regions and business sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study provides an in-depth analysis of employment trends within the European Union's meat processing industry over a ten-year period, from 2011 to 2020. It specifically focuses on companies across various employee size categories, emphasizing Romania's position within these dynamics. The research employs comprehensive data from Eurostat, assessing changes in the labour force across different company sizes and countries. The study uncovers notable variances in labour force evolution, reflecting the distinct impacts of economic conditions, industry-specific factors, and regulatory frameworks in each nation. Germany exhibited a significant rise in its labour force in larger companies, while Spain showed the highest growth rate, more than doubling its labour force in this sector. Contrarily, Poland experienced a minor decrease, illustrating a different trend. Italy and Romania both marked considerable growths, with Romania demonstrating notable progress, particularly in larger companies. These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of labour dynamics in the EU meat processing industry, influenced by a complex interplay of market demand, technological advancements, and economic policies. The study underscores the sector's essential role in the EU's economy and the need for adaptable labour force strategies in response to changing industry landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an overview of comparison of bioeconomy indicators, in Romania and European Union, related to Green Deal Pact of the EU. The so called European Green Deal, is a set of proposals adopted by European Commission in order to reduce the climate change by 2050.Official statistical data related to green transition were retrieved from Eurostat database. Specific indicators taken into consideration were circular material use rate, raw material consumption, valued added at factor cost and environmental protection expenditure. Comparison of the dynamics of these indicators for Romania vs other European Union member states, for latest available data, was plotted. When analyzing the data it can be observed that steps are being taken in each state towards fulfilling the objectives of green transition. However, Romania's bioeconomy is still underdeveloped as compared to most of the EU's member states. In order to support the Green Deal targets we need a national strategy and action plan towards green and just transition of our economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our article is to contribute with a complementary analysis to different conceptual and practical perspectives in relation to the approach, estimation and concrete evaluation of the classification of agricultural land, in direct relation to the rural space, in Romania and in the EU. Along with the land use for agriculture we are also bring to attention other uses of land, including land required for human settlement. In the economic literature, according to their origin, goods are classified into: a) free goods - air, solar heat, natural light - whose consumption is unrestricted, being in themselves gifts of Nature, and consumed according to time and place and b) economic goods - either materials, or services, information - i.e. that type of goods, which, unlike free goods, have a limited character, being the result of an economic activity and a consumption of resources. In principle, natural resources are limitless, their consumption being free, unrestricted. However, under conditions of excessive exploitation, these natural resources become depletable, limited due to the exponential evolution of the "artificial" development in all economic fields, as well as a result of unsustainable (over)consumption. Among the goods - assets, of strategic importance, are the lands, both agricultural and non-agricultural. The paper has the purpose to analyze the concept of rural space, in Romania and the European Union. for this purpose the official statistical data and corresponding processing methods, also reports, the strategic European directives and recent researches and scientific articles were used. The results emphasized the importance of its integrated development and planning as a vital pillar of durable development and sustainability in direct connection with the agricultural land use. According to a report of the European Charter of Rural Areas "the rural area of Europe represents 85% of the total area, affecting - directly or indirectly - more than half of the European population". Romanian agriculture proved to be still of a low competitiveness compared to the other EU member states, as production factors are still being used below the optimal level. Therefore, rural areas are ecosystems where the progress in reducing poverty and increasing the quality of life is very slow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper analyses the opportunities for the possible implementation of the latest technological innovations in the Romanian manufacturing industry. The latest trends in technology can be summed up by the term "Industry 4.0", or the "Fourth Industrial Revolution", which brings unprecedented levels of automation, thanks to recent breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), robotics and much more. However, manufacturing sectors are not created equally and some are more susceptible to implementing new technologies than others. The industrial situation in Eastern and Central Europe is highly debated and complex. During the Cold War, most of the Warsaw Pact and COMECON countries were characterized, economically speaking, by rapid industrialization, be it heavy or light industry. This is also the case in Romania, as it saw an increase in industrial output during the communist era. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the collectivist ideology, some manufacturing sectors collapsed, while new ones appeared, the case of deindustrialization in Central and Eastern Europe still being under scrutiny, as the industrial output has been more stable than we tend to believe. However, a shift did occur, especially in Romania. Following the transition to a market economy, industrial output suffered a metamorphosis, exchanging some sectors (such as the textile one) for new ones (such as the automotive one, following an increase in foreign direct investments from the West). These shifts in the manufacturing sector have an advantage in the unfolding context, as the new industries (such as auto-manufacturing) are more inclined to adopt Industry 4.0. These factors, in combination with the recent trend of reshoring, are prone to positively influence the future economic environment of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the European Union's concerted efforts to harmonize entrepreneurial growth and innovation across member states, significant disparities remain in the entrepreneurial landscapes of Western and Eastern Europe. France, with its mature entrepreneurial ecosystem, characterized by robust financial infrastructures, supportive regulatory frameworks, and a vibrant culture of innovation, contrasts with Romania's emerging ecosystem. This paper employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative metrics with qualitative insights. This comprehensive approach aims to identify the key factors contributing to the disparities and synergies between the two ecosystems. The outcomes of this research are anticipated to provide nuanced insights for policy makers, educators, and business leaders. By revealing the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each ecosystem, the study aims to inform targeted interventions and collaborative initiatives, fostering a more equitable, dynamic, and cohesive entrepreneurial landscape across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to complement previous studies and create an overview of the subject of agricultural holdings both at the Romanian and European level. According to the statistical data and using a quantitative and qualitative research method, it was found that more than 30 years after the restoration of land ownership, a percentage of approximately 96% of the holdings in Romania are smaller than 10 hectares, while over 70% of them are represented by farms up to 2 hectares. Therefore there huge differences and discrepancies between Romania and other EU countries in terms of agricultural holdings. The results obtained confirm that small-sized farms are found in countries such as Romania, Malta, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal, while medium-sized holdings are found especially in countries such as Poland, Spain and Italy, the rest of the holdings, those between 50 and over 100 hectares, they are mostly found in Luxembourg, Finland, the Netherlands and even Germany and France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the (re)interpretation of migration networks on the move following the European Union (EU) enlargement towards eastern Europe, which affected people's mobility in time–space. The paper poses two questions: are one or more migration networks engaged in this mobility? Is it possible to rethink migration networks in the context of mobility? Drawing on 60 in‐depth interviews with Romanians in Spain, my novel argument is that even while on they move people construct dynamic and multifaceted networks situated between encounter and difference that transcend their distinctive features and complement each other: 'associative networks' grouped around migrant associations; 'professional networks' articulated around the institutions that represent Romania in Spain; and 'global networks of encounter' that include highly mobile young people. The conclusions emphasize that the notion of migration networks on the move can be rethought by taking a transformative approach that overcomes differences and seeks interconnective synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the technological changes that have occurred in the last years, Education 4.0, a new educational paradigm has emerged. Romania, as any other country in the world, will face some challenges in order to adapt to the new educational context. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of measures undertaken by our country in order to adapt to the changes. This paper relies on a theoretical study of the actions proposed by Romanian authorities. These actions will be analyzed in comparison with the regulations proposed by the European Union. Moreover, the study will focus on the degree of implementation of the actions and the perspectives our country has in order to meet the new global context. Overall, this paper contributes to the literature by placing Romanian education system in the new educational context brought to public attention by the Education 4.0 paradigm. In addition, it will find arguments in favor or against the alignment of our country with the new educational tends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 Coronavirus pandemic dramatically disrupted the workforce in early 2020, as a result of restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of the virus. The rapid decline in economic activity has resulted in massive and widespread job losses. According to the statistics of the International Labor Organization, the employment of women worldwide decreased by 4.2% in 2020 compared to 2019, much more pronounced than that of men by 3%. Younger women, especially, experienced a disproportionately higher share of employment losses. The decrease in female employment, together with the low participation of women in the labor market, represents a major setback for the efforts made in the last two decades to increase gender equality. The paper presents a brief analysis of the evolution of the main indicators of the female labor market, aged between 15-34, under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, at the level of the European Union and Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-accession evolution of the new Member States to the European Union benefits from limited attention in the EU studies literature. More scholarly works are needed to map the performance of Romania and Bulgaria. Therefore, this paper investigates Romania's performance during the six-month Council Presidency to the European Union in the first half of 2019. Building on the framework of analysis of Karolewski et al., the paper makes an empirical contribution. It seeks to analyze if Romania lived up to the challenges of the office and managed to consolidate its reputation and show its political maturity during this crucial political moment, which countries only get to play every twelve years. The paper argues that the Romanian government aimed to project the image of an active, dynamic, and efficient actor, consensus orientated but without significant policy ambitions. It was a test it wanted to pass to confirm that Romania no longer represents an exceptional case in terms of its laggardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Romania into the European Union requires special attention to the hunting populations. The observed size of an animal population, as opposed to the genetic size, is given by the number of individuals in all categories, as well as by the total number of males and females participating in the production of the descendant generation. The purpose of the present paper was to study the evolution of the observed sizes of the hunting population for 13 species of animals in the period 2016-2020, on hunting area 16-Sarlota, from Timis County, with a total area of 6.149 ha. The present study highlighted that on this hunting area, Cervidae family - which includes ruminants with deciduous horns, is represented by 3 species, namely Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L), Fallow Deer (Dama dama L), and Roe Deer (Capreolus carpeolus L). Our paper concludes that the decrease of the populations of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L) species, Fallow Deer (Dama dama L) species, Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L) species, Wild hog (Sus scrofa L.) species, The European hare (Lepus europaeus P) species, and Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) species, in the studied period of 2018-2019, is due to the increase of the observed size with 200% on this hunting area of Jackal (CaniȘ aureus L.) species, and also due to the significant presence of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L) species. We recommend the permanent monitoring and limitation of populations from the Canidae family, especially of the Jackal (CaniȘ aureus L.) species. For the other identified species, the population of evolutionary numbers showed that there is a good correlation between the number of individuals and their biogenic capacity. The present study recommends the revival of the existing population on this hunting area, through "blood refreshing" actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Th is paper investigates the complexities associated with the principle of conferral within the European Union (EU) and highlights the diffi culties and challenges related to conferring competences both within the EU and in the relationship between the EU and its member states. Also the paper underscores the need to maintain vigilance and ongoing monitoring of issues related to conferral to ensure the effi cient functioning of the EU in an ever‑evolving context. (Th e paper was presented at the 6th National Conference, in Bucharest, with international participation, on the theme "Application of European Union Law in Romania", organised by the Romanian Society of European Law, a member of the International Federation of European Law, on October 27, 2023. ) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study through a comprehensive set of socioeconomic indicators the regional level of well-being achieved in Romania, and monitor the improvements and disparities in well-being after a decade of accession to the European Union. Design/methodology/approach: A dashboard of 20 socioeconomic indicators for measuring nine dimensions of well-being for Romanian counties is proposed. Using the Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto method are built composite indicators, which allow us to assess the trend of overall welfare scores for each county. The data are collected at the county level, for 42 counties, and each year from 2006 to 2017, from administrative sources. Findings: The overall well-being index has an increasing trend for all counties, but the growth rate varies from one county to another. The economic factors, geographic location and share of the urban population matter. For most counties, the evolution of well-being scores is below that recorded at the country level. Romania has registered significant improvements in health, housing, income and access to public utilities dimensions. The counties are ranked by level of well-being. Some empirical measures suggest a slight tendency of socioeconomic disparities to increase over time. Originality/value: The paper attempts to fill some gaps in measuring the level and disparities of welfare in a fast-growing emerging economy. The Romanian regional context is to a lesser extent explored in a multidimensional approach, from spatial and temporal points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights the quantities of pesticides used in Romania and the evolution of the surfaces on which pesticides were applied, in the period 2015-2017 compared to 2011-2013, a comparison necessary to present the progress that Romania has made in reducing the use of these plant protection products. This period overlaps over the period in which the harmonized risk index was determined at EU level. In the European Union, it is envisaged that in the future, pesticides should be used in a sustainable manner, the impact that this measure will have representing the reduction of risks and negative effects on the environment and human health. The countries of the European Union take into account the proposed objectives, and by including in the National Strategic Plans the quantitative targets related to pesticides, they will constantly monitor the effects established by the implementation of the EU policy. The conclusions highlight that in Romania the quantities of insecticides and herbicides decreased, and those of fungicides increased in the period 2015-2017 compared to the period 2011-2013, and the surfaces on which insecticides and fungicides were applied increased while the ones with herbicides decreased, thus the average quantity of insecticides and herbicides per hectare decreased and the average quantity of fungicides per hectare increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of unconventional renewable and sustainable energy production options by tapping into the energy associated with the natural tendency to cancel salinity gradients that occur when salt water and fresh water come into contact. Furthermore, this paper assesses the potential for generating blue energy in Romania by examining historical data on flow rates from relevant fresh water sources, such as the Danube River, and the salt loading of potential receiving water bodies, including salt lakes, and the Black Sea. In addition, this study briefly references pilot-level technologies for blue energy production in other countries, including Norway, Japan, and the European Union. Based on literature data, this paper highlights the most important technological methods with applicative potential for harnessing energy from salinity gradients. The performances and limitations of these methods have been presented, acknowledging that despite recent years of advancements in materials and technologies, large-scale implementation and commercialization efforts are still limited. The analyzed data reveals that Romania possesses substantial potential blue energy resources for both large capacity installations, such as the Danube River-Black Sea with a potential achievable capacity of about 50 MW, as well as smaller capacity devices situated around saline lakes and salt deposits. This study concludes that Romania has a unique opportunity to capitalize on its vast blue energy potential and drive sustainable energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania has the highest percentage of active population that works in another European member state. This fact appeared in time, by mixing migration and mobility. If mobility refers to employees, migration refers to people. These two terms are not interchangeable. Mobility in employment on the territory of the European Union brings different approaches in countries, in terms of salaries and skills used. The main scope of this paper is to present some relevant national and European statistics related to mobility/migration, and to set up some advantages and disadvantages that in the future could bring new research prospects. In order to fulfill this purpose, in this paper was made a brief synthesis regarding the literature review and a descriptive statistic analysis, using data from the Eurostat website. Data was extracted for Romania and European Union, in terms of number of emigrants and vacant jobs, for the period 2006-2019. According to aur analysis, the advantages of the mobilities are especially for the employers to whom the mobilities are carried out, but appear for the employees as well. Fresh and motivated workforce, over qualified employees and increased productivity - represent advantages in this sense. The disadvantages at the international level are: new costs for the employers for which mobilities are carried out, "brain drain" and disparities between macro-regions among the EU space. Future research prospects regarding mobility in the national and european context could be, as it follows: disparities in european space throug mobilities, the over qualified employees and mobility, the "brain drain" syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present paper is to make an analysis of agro-tourism activity development in Dobrogea - a historical province from Romania's South-East extremity, in order to identify the main trends and changes in the period after Romania's accession to the European Union, using official empirical data and specific indicators: agro-tourism offer in terms of number of agro-tourism boarding houses (they refer only to accommodation in standardized tourist units) and number of places/beds in use (number places-days) in this type of accommodation units; agro-tourism demand in terms of number of tourist overnight stays in the agro-tourism boarding houses; the net utilization index of the agro-tourism boarding houses capacity. The whole volume of information presented in this paper was obtained from national statistics, from governmental and non-governmental sources, as well as from articles and studies published in specialized journals. The results showed that the agro-tourism offers were among the most preferred destination, as most tourists feel safer here and agro-tourism boarding houses services are more and more attractive. However, the agro-tourism potential in Dobrogea should be much better exploited, the demand/offer ratio should be in balance, the agro-tourism boarding houses destinations should be more intensively promoted and service quality should be improved in order to increase the agro-tourism flow and attractiveness of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the conditions of integration of Romania in the European Union, a profitable and modern agriculture is one of the main conditions for having a competitive economy. That is why, the management of agricultural farms, no matter what their size, is very important in achieving this goal. The paper presents studies and researches made on farm processing machinery management, which is a very important step in a good farm management. We analysed the measures processing operations which are required before the crop may be fed or stored, especially reducing machinery and drying machinery. In what concerns the reducing machinery, we have presented all the types of these machines with their particular characteristics and advantages. We also analysed their mechanisms and the possible adjustments that can be made and presented the importance of drying machines in the final result of farm management and have found the time limits for safe storage of shelled corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses an essential aspect, related to the economic efficiency of sunflower production, i.e. the selling price (lei/kg). This situation is determined by the multiple possibilities for the recovery of sunflower seeds, depending on which producers can negotiate different levels of the selling price on the basis of the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the seeds, which may be stipulated in the recovery contracts or which may be taken into account at the time of sale on the open market, to various beneficiaries. It should be noted that Romania is the main grower and producer of sunflowers in the European Union (about 24% of the total area harvested and about 25% of total production respectively). Addressing the subject, aimed to highlight the differences between the 8 development regions existing at national level, in Romania. The price is characterized by a multiannual national average of 1.39 lei/kg, with limits of 0.99 lei/kg for the West Region in 2014 and 1.61 lei/kg for the South Muntenia Region at the level of 2016. If we look at the indicator in the light of its evolution over time, we see the existence of fluctuating trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As it is well known, Romania is an important cultivator and producer of wheat in the European Union. Due to the pedo-climatic conditions that our country has, wheat is found in all development regions, and especially in the South-Muntenia Region. Here, in 2020, 602,794 ha were cultivated, representing 28% of Romania's total area cultivated with wheat. The production obtained was 1,753,248 tons, and accounted for 27% of Romania's total wheat production. Unfortunately, this crop faces diseases and pests that can affect plant nutrition and development, and ultimately influences indicators such as the average production and total production. Contamination of cereals with toxic fungal metabolites is one of the main problems of contemporary agriculture. Fusarium species are the most dangerous pathogens of cereals and have a high level of toxicity. These metabolites are the main cause of the development of cereal fusarium (FHB). Under the existing natural conditions at Albota-Pitesti Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS), Arges County the paper presents several studies on the mineral nutrition of winter wheat subject to the risk of contamination with Fusarium toxins. It should be noted that the types of soil on which the experiments were performed were Vertic Luvisols. Five winter wheat varieties were selected for testing: Delabrad, Dropia, Faur, Glosa and Gruia. The phenophases in which the mineral nutrition of the plants was characterized with macro and micronutrients, were those of the ear emergence-flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate changes with their effects: floods, drought, desertification affect agricultural production. Likewise, the Agricultural Policies on the European Union, through the Farm to Fork Strategy, propose limiting the amount of fertilizers to improve the quality of the environment. Farmers must adapt and use high-performance technologies to face these challenges. In this context, the study analyses the perception of farmers with large farms regarding the main factors that influence the evolution of agriculture in Romania. According to the survey, the factors that influence the increase in agricultural production are: the use of selected seeds, adapted to the agricultural area where the farm operates, the establishment/expansion of irrigation systems, access to new research in the agricultural field, the increase in the level of training of agricultural personnel, the intensive application of fertilizers and pesticides, easy access to low- cost financing. Regarding the association in agriculture and ecological agriculture adapted to climate change, the farmers' attitude is polarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural space is an important social component for each country. Phenomena such as ageing population and migration of young people to large urban centres or outside Romania's borders have led to the depopulation of these areas. This paper is identify from the point of view of legislation, how to classify holdings according to agricultural activity, but how they are classified according to economic size. The aim of the work is to identify the evolution of the number of holdings influenced by various factors, but also to determine the position that Romania must have with regard to agricultural holdings in relation to other countries of the European Union. The quantitative and qualitative method of data analysis was used in this paper. Also, the analyzed data show that the methods of subsidizing and financing agricultural holdings have contributed to the decrease in the total number of agricultural holdings (mergers) in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]