Eastern Journal of European Studies

Optimal taxation and monitoring in an economy with matching frictions and underground activities

Author: Gaetano LISI

Abstract: This short paper shows the interdependence of taxation and monitoring policy in a search and matching model of equilibrium unemployment with an underground sector. More precisely, from a social welfare standpoint, two options are available to the policy maker: she/he may either substitute a tighter monitoring with a higher penalty or enforce both a higher taxation and an increased monitoring.

Keywords: optimal taxation, tax evasion, underground economy, job search theory

Pages: 5-11 | Full text (PDF)

The increase of rural development measures efficiency at the micro-regions level by cluster analysis. A Romanian case study

Authors: Maria VINCZE, Elemer MEZEI

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role of cluster analysis of rural localities as the basis for a more efficient way of choosing the rural development measures to be used to stimulate rural socio-economic growth. We present evidence of the typologies of rural localities determined by hierarchical cluster using the Ward method. We used five groups of criteria: 1. characterising labour force supply (10 indicators); 2. those which describe the structure of employment via economic activities (5 indicators); 3. characteristics of living standards (7 indicators), 4. labour force, natural resources and local income characteristics (11 indicators). All of these indicators, used in the first stage of factor analysis, and in the second stage in the cluster analyses, permit classification of rural localities in different clusters, which, generally need different measures for rural employment growth. We offer a short description of the groups of localities which belong to different clusters. This information can help local, county and regional level decision makers to identify the most efficient approaches to stimulating rural development..

Keywords: global-local, rural localities typologies, factor analysis, cluster analysis, North-West region, Bistriþa-Nãsãud county of Romania

Pages: 13-39 | Full text (PDF)

The economic crisis and its management in Spain

Author: Andrea ELTETÕ

Abstract: The long pre-crisis period of growth and employment creation in Spain was based mainly on the construction sector. This, facilitated by cheap bank loans created jobs for the millions of immigrants arriving in the country. The crisis made the Spanish economy sink into a deep recession in 2008. The aim of this article is to describe the Spanish crisis-management in the past years. The extremely high unemployment rate and the indebtedness made policy-makers to adopt austerity measures and realise the necessity of profound reforms. The biggest transformation processes began among the savings banks and on the labour market. The article concludes that these reforms should continue while it is necessary to find a new model for long-term growth. Endowments like the excellent infrastructure and successful companies, stronger export activity, international presence and innovation can provide the bases for such a durable growth.

Keywords: Spain, economic crisis, unemployment, labour market, fiscal policy, competitiveness

Pages: 41-55 | Full text (PDF)

On the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights

Author: Aurora CIUCA

Abstract: After a short presentation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and its features, the paper is focused on the European Union?s accession to the European Convention of Human Rights. As part of the Treaty of Lisbon implementation, this process is not an easy one. The author intends to identify and raise questions on this process, and to emphasise some technical and procedural difficulties, by comparing the two main European human rights systems. Europe has to face many changes and challenges: the recent entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the "new status" of the Charter of fundamental rights (as a legally binding instrument) and the beginning of the process of EU?s accession to the European Convention of Human Rights. This paper is intended to point out some aspects of this new era of the European construction.

Keywords: human rights, European human rights law, accession, Treaty of Lisbon, European Convention

Pages: 57-65  | Full text (PDF)

The role of EU institutions in implementing its monetary policy

Author: Emilia GEORGIEVA

Abstract: The main goal of the current article is to illustrate in detail the powers of the EU institutions to implement its monetary policy. The methods used to explore the topic and to draw the conclusions and interpret the findings are based on deduction and induction. On the grounds of the information presented in the article the following conclusions have been drawn: the relations between the EU institutions responsible for implementing its monetary policy (the European Central Bank, the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and others) are entirely based on fundamental principles laid down for all its institutions; the commitments of the institutions implementing the EU monetary policy are strictly stipulated in its primary legislation and are mostly related to the establishment of the EU Economic and Monetary Union, the framing, planning and implementing of the common monetary policy, the management of the Monetary Union. In the conditions of world financial and economic crisis the EU has attempted to respond adequately to its monetary policy problems, commensurate with the scope and matching the specific nature of this crisis.

Keywords: European Union, Economic and Monetary Union, monetary policy, EU institutions, world economic crisis

Pages: 67-79 | Full text (PDF)

Discursive differences and policy outcomes: EU-Russia relations and security in Europe

Authors: Licínia SIMAO

Abstract: The redefinition of political communities in Europe has been a process in flux, especially since the end of the Cold War. The central role of the EU as an "identity builder" (Risse, 2009) among its member states, and to a certain extent in its relations with its neighbours, has been increasingly contested, not least in its relations with Russia. Europe has been a permanent feature of Russia?s identity redefinition following the collapse of the Soviet Union and therefore a central element shaping relations between the two actors. This article puts forward the argument that differences in discourse and meanings have an impact in policy outcomes, as regards EU-Russia relations and security in Europe. It surveys fundamental events in European security and the parallel evolution in security discourses within the EU and Russia. It, therefore, maps the main elements shaping EU-Russia security relations, focusing on the construction of discursive maps and on how these have impacted bilateral and regional security relations.

Keywords: European Union, Russia, identity, discourse, security, neighbourhood

Pages: 81-95 | Full text (PDF)

Some considerations on the EU Danube Strategy and the Black Sea Region

Author: Costel COROBAN

Abstract: The Danube strategy can only constitute a step forward regarding the stated intentions, via the Black Sea Synergy program of the European Union towards the boosting of economic development, democratic governance, security etc., in the Black Sea region. Even more, this implies the warranty of sustainable development considering that the purposes of the Danube strategy call for more effective transports and environmental protection. First of all, the advantages for the Black Sea area derive from the complexity and large scale of the strategy plan for the Danube, which implies a surface of over 800.000 km2, a population of over 100 million inhabitants, 10 European countries and 4 European capitals. Although this time, because of the ongoing economic crisis, the European Commission has declared its full support for this cause while unable to cover any of its expenses, we should not forget that the idea of this project has been derived from the success of another macro region project, the Baltic Sea strategy. This model mainly implies the possibility of real benefits for the countries which are included in the Danube strategy and which are also near the Black Sea: Romania, Bulgaria, and, in a broader perspective, Moldova as well as Ukraine. The detailing of this feature is the main objective of the current paper, an objective which, we trust, can be accomplished by the careful extrapolation of the advantages offered by past macro region projects of the European Union, and the theoretical approach of their implementation in the regional context of the Black Sea. The method used is the analysis of official EU Inforegio documents, but the current article also relies on the recent literature on this subject.

Keywords: Danube Strategy, Black Sea, European Union, Territorial Cooperation, Macro Region, Sustainable Development

Pages: 97-110 | Full text (PDF)

Policies for strategic territorial development. Inter-municipality association as a form of network governance: the Italian experience

Author: Patrizia MESSINA

Abstract: This paper will discuss the problems involving the forms of association between municipalities in North East Italy from the European perspective. These forms of association may be defined as examples of inter-municipality networks: a concept that allows us to shift emphasis from the rigidity in the organizational structure of every local authority to the flexibility and functionality of relations between the actors in terms of the policies that they mean to share and the different network rationales used according to the choice of the governance model enacted. Planning and encouraging the construction of polycentric networks such as the Union of Municipalities means recognizing and sustaining a governance of functional interdependence, which is at the basis of both the associated administration of services in a homogenous area and strategic planning over a „vast area?, via joint action and shared decision-making between the local authorities. This represents a decisive step towards the practice of functional federalism and the construction of new forms of "network" polity.

Keywords:  network governance, public management, local government, strategic planning, regional studies

Pages: 111-128 | Full text (PDF)

Problems of Romanian SMEs with tapping EU structural funds

Author: Gabor HUNYA

Abstract: Romanian SMEs can directly benefit from the Sectoral Operational Programme "Increase of Economic Competitiveness" (SOP IEC) and some parts of the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) in the 2007-2013 period. There has been wide interest for these subsidies on behalf of SMEs but major problems emerged with the implementation of projects. These are mostly related to the poor preparation of the projects, their cumbersome approval and the unfavourable general economic conditions in the country. The paper relies on information compiled by a survey and several focus groups run with SME in early 2011. These reveal that Romanian SMEs are at a rudimentary stage of skills, organization and market knowledge. Their development aims are rather short-term and not very complex. They lack the knowledge, expertise and staff to participate in complex tenders and in application processes which explains their high failure rate with EU financed projects. Learning by doing is, however, improving their skills and capacities. However, the design and structure of the EU programmes are also deficient in supporting the development of SMEs in need of more simple and transparent mechanisms which they can understand and cope with.

Keywords: SMEs, EU support programmes, Romania

Pages: 129-146 | Full text (PDF)

BOOK REVIEW:

John McClintock, The Uniting of Nations: An Essay on Global Governance

Author: Lucian-Dumitru DIRDALA

Pages: 147-150 | Full text (PDF)