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In the current technological era, the social media today present a necessary tool among most of the businesses in their communication with the consumers. Smaller businesses with limited resources look at them as a cost effective communication channel but also big companies take advantage of them. To explore the practices, the paper focuses on the awareness and benefits of social media as a communication channel between the participants in the Macedonian startup community. A structured questionnaire was distributed to all registered start ups in the Republic of Macedonia. The survey found that 60% of the respondents fully agree that by using social media as a communication channel with consumers is improving the image of the company itself, which coincides with the opinion of Taneja and Toombs (2014) describing the positive aspects of the use of social media. While, contrary to the findings of Bakeman and Hanson (2012) concluding that only big companies are aware of the social media utilization, the survey found that all 25 startups or 100% of respondents use social media in running their business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the customer's behavior towards wine design in three different countries: Macedonia, Germany and Japan, which are countries with different cultural specifics. This research question has already been analyzed in developed countries, thereby presenting a customer profile which has been influenced by today's social, psychological and global factors. This triggered the inquiry into analyzing how wine packaging is perceived in Macedonia and to see if there are any similarities with EU customers, such as those from Germany and if there is a bigger difference with the customer from Japan. This research will provide advice on European customer integration and if it is appropriate to design the same branding and packaging for these two countries in Europe or for the branding of a European product on the global market. The basic research methods of this paper are developed according to theoretical studies from the marketing literature. The research method for this study is a quantitative online survey of a sample of 70 Macedonian consumers. The questionnaire is adopted from German and Japanese authors, providing a continuation of the study developed in 2012. The Macedonian survey was conducted in November 2013. The determination of the preferences of wine consumers in Macedonia, Germany and Japan helps in the improvement of the design of wine packaging. Moreover, developing a packaging design according consumers' requirements leads to better communication between the consumer and the product by creating a long lasting relationship, as well as better economic results. This research will provide valuable information not only for the industry, but also by presenting valuable scientific feedback in the area of packaging and showing how different the customer perception in EU countries is by comparison with non EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its creation in 2010, the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), as a part of the Bologna process, has achieved many successes on the way to the future integration of Europe as a whole in the field of higher education. Most of its 49 members have adopted and implemented reforms of higher education, having in mind sustainable development, a knowledge based society, higher employment, innovation and social cohesion. Our paper is divided into the following four parts. In the first part, we describe the future EHEA through its basic documents adopted by the Ministerial conferences of participating states, as envisioned in the Bologna declaration of 1999. The second part deals with higher education in the Republic of Macedonia - a participant of the Bologna process since 2003. The Macedonian Law on Higher Education of 2008 is consistent with the Bologna process, but deals insufficiently with higher education mobility -one of the main themes of the 2015 European Ministerial Conference in Yerevan. The third part deals with good practices in the implementation of the Bologna principles in various parts of Europe and beyond. Macedonia, like other nations needs a mobility strategy. Will Macedonia and other countries be able to have 20% of their student body spend a part of their study abroad by 2020? Only with difficulty. The question that remains is, what can be done about it? The fourth part contains some answers to the mobility conundrum by providing recommendations for the faster growth of inbound and outbound mobility. The recommendations apply to the EHEA and its member states. The methodology used includes: reviewing relevant documents; using UNESCO and EU statistics; and semi-structured interviews with Macedonian graduate students, colleagues and state officials. These are, in part, a basis of the recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks an answer about the level of awareness of green economics/green jobs as a concept for sustainable growth among the young population in Europe. In order to provide a basis for sustainable growth we take into consideration the essential issues. Green economics is an emerging field of economics combining knowledge from the natural sciences and economy, thus offering unique insights into four areas: climate changes mitigation, businesses, political and moral. The conclusions refer to the future needs for building awareness and creating a solid base for knowledge sharing on sustainable development issues among the young population. In addition, recommendations for inclusive policy dialogue to facilitate such growth are part of the focus as well. The research group targeted 30 people from five European and one African country between 18 to 25 years of age. A method using qualitative research combined with exploratory research has been used for this survey and its analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks an answer as to which global marketing communication strategies are applicable for the EU market after the Lisbon Treaty, taking into account the fact that the most effective marketing communication appeal of a product may vary within different markets due to cultural, social and economic differences. Identifying the differences of local markets in terms of needs, demands, competition and local regulations is essential in choosing proper marketing communications targeted at the public. The final part of this paper presents the results of a qualitative survey of the business community in Macedonia which operates internationally with the EU. The objective is to detect the link between the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, as the output of a globalized Europe, and developed global marketing communications as an output of rapidly globalizing businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world economic crisis has necessitated finding ways for survival in the most pessimistic scenarios or just cutting costs in the best situations. US Banks suffered the most from the crisis. Banks in Macedonia are not feeling the same effects. The world financial crisis didn't jeopardize the stability and liquidity of the Macedonian financial system because of the strong deposit base, banks' low debt and the prudent regulatory system, which maintained a healthy banking portfolio. However, the Financial Institutions in Macedonia are already feeling the consequences of the global financial crisis. The Advertising sectors of the global financial institutions are showing lower marketing budgets, but importantly they have not been cut completely. Banks are working on increasing their deposits through their corporate image communications. This means that the financial institutions' advertising should continue in order to keep and strengthen banks' corporate image and should stress the stability of the banks. This paper presents the advertising activity of the financial institutions during the current world economic crisis and the consequent marketing communication budget reallocation. The effects of the banks' marketing communication during the crisis is shown with data on the banks' customer and market share and on the banks' corporate image perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks an answer regarding the awareness and the level of implementation of Green Economics among the young population in Europe. Green economics is an emerging field of economics combining knowledge from the natural sciences and economy thus offering unique insights into four areas: climate changes mitigation, businesses, political and moral. The main focus is on providing new solutions for contemporary problems the world faces in the 21st century by raising awareness of green economics among upcoming generations of decision makers. The situation in the world is alarming. Exhausting planet resources, over consumption, global warming, pollution, poverty, inequality, all already part of the European thinking but not to a desired extent. So, what are the key recommendations for Europe to remain a global player and leader of the world’s future development? These issues will force us to rewrite the economics to better cope with changes for a better future, combining it with natural sciences reflecting the changing environment and life standard for all humankind, nature, other living species, and the planet itself. The new wave economics primary targets young people. Therefore, this paper researches a group of 30 young people from five European and one African country: Egypt, Macedonia, Malta, Italy, Ireland, and England between 18 to 25 years old. A qualitative research combined with exploratory research has been conducted. A nine day observation period of the group proceeding, mutual understanding, and a follow up closed end questionnaire with few open ended questions was the basis of this research. This research will give us answers regarding the importance of green economics for the future of Europe as a global player, level of awareness of young people, and their suggestions for improvements towards world sustainability through green jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]