Study on the Information Level of Pupils and Parents Regarding the Effects of Unhealthy Food Consumption

During the past centuries, consumption has become both one of the most discussed and analyzed subjects in the literature and a mass phenomenon in society. In order to satisfy their needs and to improve the quality of their life consumers need information and education. Consumers’ information and education are promoted by a globally-developed consumer movement. The aims of our paper are to present the role of the consumer information and education in society, and to analyze and highlight the results of a national project regarding the information and education of Romanian young consumers, run by the Association for Consumers Protection (APC) Romania. By using primary data obtained from a survey based on a questionnaire, a set of three hypotheses was tested during our research. The results of our research shows that a relatively small number of Romanian pupils from the 5th grade to 8th grade were aware of the negative effects of unhealthy food consumption and of the fact that the unhealthy food consumption may give rise to obesity and ADHD (agitation with attention deficit).consumer information, consumption, consumer, consumerism, pupils

The impact of European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP) on Romanian rural area

As a response to the global financial crisis, the European Commission elaborated a European Economic Recovery Plan, which aims at the increase of the demand, generation of economic growth and creation of new jobs. Among the solutions proposed to recover the economies, investments in rural development, especially in the fields of biodiversity, water management, milk and dairy products sector refreshment may be reminded, support for application of renewable energy and development of internet infrastructure in rural areas. By recovering economy with the help of investments in infrastructure, ecologic technologies, energetic efficiency and innovation, the package proposed by the European Commission intends to accelerate the transition to a knowledge-based society with reduced carbon dioxide emissions and environmentallyfriendly agricultural practices

The forest-based sector in a new EU forest strategy 2015-2020

The socio-economic importance of forests is high, but often underestimated. Forests contribute to rural development and provide around three million jobs. Wood is still the main source of financial revenue from forests. So the strategy also looks at the EU forest-based industries, subject to EU industrial policy. Wood is also considered an important source of raw material for emerging bio-based industries. Forest biomass is currently the most important source of renewable energy and now accounts for around half of the EU’s total renewable energy consumption. The strategy 2015-2020 and the implementation should build on existing legislation and international initiatives and consider the special situation of small forest owners, and address market-based private-sector tools such as certification. To deliver on common objectives and improve coherence and synergies, coordination with and between Member States is important. Member States are asked to consider the principles and goals of this strategy when setting up and implementing their action plans and national forest programmes

Research on rural poverty in Romania

One of the European Union's priorities for the programming period of 2014-2020 consists of inclusive favourable growth. This means promoting an economy with a high rate of employment, to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion such that the benefits of economic growth and jobs to be distributed fairly, and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion to be given the opportunity to have a decent life and to play an active role in the society. The achievement of stated strategic objective requires a special attention on rural areas, both at EU level, as at each Member State level. In Romania, 45.0% of the country population is concentrated in rural areas, where there are living almost three quarters (71.3%) of the country's poor population. The percentage of persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion at national level in 2012 was 41.7% of the total population, Romania being surpassed only by Bulgaria, with 49.3%, while the EU average stood at 24.8%. Poverty in rural areas is due mainly to the low agricultural productivity and low employment opportunities in other areas outside the agricultural sector. Rural areas development and reduction of the high level of poverty in these areas can be achieved through stimulating and supporting programs of development for rural social economy, human capital development and increasing the social protection level in rural areas

Comparative analysis of the strategic objectives of European Union for the past programming period 2007-2013 and for the current programming period 2014-2020

The growing competition between different regions, thus their activities performed under both within and outside the European Union represents a fact of the "globalized" world in which we are living. For many years, the regional disparities in terms of development level and life quality were subject to national policies of the Member States. Many improvements have been observed since the European Union initiated the policy of reducing them. The Cohesion Policy of the European Union has an unique irreplaceable role in the coagulation of integrated development strategies, comprising interventions in different areas, such as infrastructure, research and innovation, employment, education, business, environment protection, climate changes and energy efficiency within a package of coherent policies addressing to regional or even local context, being one of the most visible policies, especially in what regards the relationship with citizens. Thus, the Cohesion Policy target is represented by supporting the process of reducing the disparities between the regions and Member States more developed of the European Union and the ones that are less developed

Research regarding the European Union forests from a global perspective

At pan-European level, the focus is on the ongoing negotiations on establishing a legally binding agreement on forests, with the EU as a key actor. Through this agreement, the EU aims to improve sustainable forest management across the region. The new strategy forms a suitable vehicle for the implementation of the agreement. At global level, the EU is at the frontline of work on combating deforestation and forest degradation. It promotes sustainable forest management as a way of protecting biodiversity, fighting desertification and responding to climate change, whilst ensuring that forest ecosystems deliver goods and services. In this way it contributes to sustainable development and to eradicating poverty. REDD+, FLEGT and the EU Timber Regulation aim towards these goals. Mapping and assessing the state of forest ecosystems and their services requires better EU forest information. Relevant variables and parameters will be harmonised at EU level, based on cooperation between international, pan-European and national data acquisition systems, and on a detailed analysis of EU challenges

Stage of implementation of the National Rural Development Programme in Romania three years after the adhesion

The financing mechanism of CAP pillar II – Rural development has suffered, along time, significant changes, determined by the need for improvement and also by the experience achieved in this field by the European organisms and the member countries. The attaining of a rate as big as possible of the capacity of absorbing European funds represents a real „challenge”, especially for the new member states. Three years after the adhesion, unfortunately Romania has not succeeded in carrying out adequate fund absorption for rural development; at the end of 2010, the absorption degree recorded was only 17.7% and the contracting degree was only 34%

Comparative analysis of the strategic objectives of European Union for the past programming period 2007-2013 and for the current programming period 2014-2020

The growing competition between different regions, thus their activities performed under both within and outside the European Union represents a fact of the "globalized" world in which we are living. For many years, the regional disparities in terms of development level and life quality were subject to national policies of the Member States. Many improvements have been observed since the European Union initiated the policy of reducing them. The Cohesion Policy of the European Union has an unique irreplaceable role in the coagulation of integrated development strategies, comprising interventions in different areas, such as infrastructure, research and innovation, employment, education, business, environment protection, climate changes and energy efficiency within a package of coherent policies addressing to regional or even local context, being one of the most visible policies, especially in what regards the relationship with citizens. Thus, the Cohesion Policy target is represented by supporting the process of reducing the disparities between the regions and Member States more developed of the European Union and the ones that are less developed

Research regarding the European Union forests from a global perspective

At pan-European level, the focus is on the ongoing negotiations on establishing a legally binding agreement on forests, with the EU as a key actor. Through this agreement, the EU aims to improve sustainable forest management across the region. The new strategy forms a suitable vehicle for the implementation of the agreement. At global level, the EU is at the frontline of work on combating deforestation and forest degradation. It promotes sustainable forest management as a way of protecting biodiversity, fighting desertification and responding to climate change, whilst ensuring that forest ecosystems deliver goods and services. In this way it contributes to sustainable development and to eradicating poverty. REDD+, FLEGT and the EU Timber Regulation aim towards these goals. Mapping and assessing the state of forest ecosystems and their services requires better EU forest information. Relevant variables and parameters will be harmonised at EU level, based on cooperation between international, pan-European and national data acquisition systems, and on a detailed analysis of EU challenges