The migration process of Romanians to Andalusia, Spain: focus on socio-economic implications

Based on a case study research carried out among Romanian immigrants in Andalusia, Spain, through this paper we aim to outline a wide image of the investigated migratory process. The focus is on the description of its fundamental characteristics and on its socio-economic implications for both the sending and the receiving regions. In this context, we aim to raise awareness among policy makers in relation with the magnitude and complexity of the phenomenon, for its proper management. Statistical and econometrical analysis were developed in order to process the information gathered through the quantitative research, while the inductive approach was used in order to analyze the information obtained from the qualitative pieces of research. The scarce fi nancial conditions in Romania determined many people to search for job opportunities – in particular in agriculture, child or elderly care, or housekeeping – in Andalusia, especially in the provinces of Seville and Huelva. However, during the past period, the economic crisis was strongly putting a mark on the Spanish economy and many of the investigated immigrants were unemployed. Even though, in general, their coming back intentions were not very clear. Socio-economic implications – both positive and negative – arise from the migration process of Romanians to Andalusia, for both the sending and the receiving countries. Remittances, solving shortages on the labor market, or increase in regional and national incomes may fi t in the fi rst category, while the second category may be composed of examples such as families left behind, school dropouts, children involvement in dangerous entourages and/or in illegal activities, tensions on the labor market etc

Education and Training Needs in the Field of Consumer Protection in the Lower Danube Region

The issues of consumer rights and consumer welfare are increasingly important, especially in the current economic climate in which the ability to make informed choices represents a real advantage in consumers’ daily life. In order to make their purchases with confidence, both in their country and abroad, consumers need easy access to precise information and to professional advice. Taking into account the fact that education and training are a strategic factor for a sustainable development through contribution to human capital development, within the Romania–Bulgaria Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2007–2013, the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania and the D. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svisthov, Bulgaria decided to collaborate in the field “Cooperation on human resources development – joint development of skills and knowledge”, through the development of cross-border liaisons and exchanges between the two universities. Our objective is to bring up new methods of training in the field of consumer protection in order to train and to supply the labour market with specialized experts in this field in charge with various issues regarding consumers in enterprises, in organizations in charge with elaborating consumer protection policies and in organizations in charge with market supervision and control and also in consumers’ associations. We consider that in this way we meet both consumers’ and employers’ needs because economic agents need professionals in the field as well, in order to advise them in their quest to protect the rights and interests of consumers. Also, Meglena Kuneva, the European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, noted that studies conducted at European level revealed that there is a high level of interest for recruiting qualified experts in the field of consumer protection shown by large companies, national governments, small and medium enterprises and consumers’ associations. In order to evaluate the requirement for education and training in the field of consumer protection in the Lower Danube Region, we decided to collect and study the necessary information, both at EU level as well as those specific to the counties bordering the Danube, information which sustain the need for the establishment of a new form of expert training in this field. As a result, the paper brings up aspects regarding the need for training experts in the field of consumer protection, referring to the Romanian counties bordering the Danube and neighbouring Bulgaria. Also, this report presents the findings of a research project whose aim is to evaluate the availability of prerequisites for seeking educational products in the field of consumer protection in Bulgaria. The institutional framework of the process in Bulgaria has been analyzed and the results of a survey among the representatives of the four parties involved in it – government authorities, NGOs, consumers and suppliers – have been presented. The research presents their point of view regarding the extent to which the process of consumer protection in Bulgaria is developed, what are the major obstacles it faces, what means of improvement are there, to what extent the more active offer of educational products would facilitate the process and based on this, what would the role played by the institutions of higher education be, what types of educational products would best be realized on the market in a short-term and medium term aspect. The motivation for such research is related both to the strive to improve the status of the consumer rights protection in Bulgaria and the intention of Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Bulgaria and the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest to collaborate towards intensifying the cross-border co-operation and facilitate the human resource development in the region by jointly offering educational products.consumer protection, educational needs, educational products, training

CRATAEGUS GENUS: PRESERVED PLANTS

Crataegus Genus is a complex group of small trees with more than 1000 species being native to northern temperate zones. The Herbarium hosts 200 plates that contain 30 Crataegus Genus species. Most plates belong to C. monogyna, C. pentagyna and C. oxyacantha. The majority of Crataegus species were gathered between the years 1934 and 1943. A large number of plates are signed by Al. Beldie, S. Pașcovski, Al. Borza, C.C.Georgescu and were gathered from Texas, Pensylvania (USA), and from Romania (Bucharest, Argeș). The herbarium offers a unique perspective for the Crataegus genus species in regard to their location-temporal dynami

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIELD MAPLE STANDS FROM THE MOLDAVIAN PLAIN (ROMANIA)

Acer genus comprises approx. 120 species, mostly trees and rarely shrubs. There are several species of this genus in Romania (8), both forest and ornamental. Acer campestre is a tree of the third size and a species of understory. The present study was conducted on field maple stands from the Moldavian Plain, Romania. A series of characteristics were studied, namely: altitude, slope, stand age, crown density, increments and stand volume. The area occupied by field maple in the Moldavian Plain is of 666.4 ha. The maximum altitude at which the studied species is found is 525 m

RISK MANAGEMENT IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCESS. PARTICULARITIES AND SOLUTIONS FOR OPTIMIZING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN ROMANIA IN THE CONTEXT OF EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Public procurement involves adequate risk management, specific to the procurement portfolio established at the level of the organization. In order to achieve the proposed objectives, in accordance with the regulated framework established at the level of public institutions from Romania, decisions made at the level of contracting authorities must be based on risk management tools and mechanisms. These tools and mechanisms are defined on the basis of analyses of public procurement processes, carried out in compliance with the legal framework applicable at both European and national level. The new context created at the level of the contracting authorities in Romania, with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, forced the management factors to adopt emergency decisions, to manage new risks and to implement rapid changes in public procurement processes, in the context of high uncertainty. This paper aims at analyzing the way decisions are made at the level of contracting authorities in Romania, in order to identify specific risk management mechanisms, based on the assessment and anticipation of risks related to public procurement organized in an matter of emergency.   

THE MIGRATION PROCESS OF ROMANIANS TO ANDALUSIA, SPAIN. FOCUS ON SOCIOECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Based on a case study research carried out among Romanian immigrants in Andalusia, Spain, through this paper we aim to outline a wide image of the investigated migratory process. The focus is on the description of its fundamental characteristics and on its socio-economic implications for both the sending and the receiving regions. In this context, we aim to raise awareness among policy makers in relation with the magnitude and complexity of the phenomenon, for its proper management. Statistical and econometrical analysis were developed in order to process the information gathered through the quantitative research, while the inductive approach was used in order to analyze the information obtained from the qualitative pieces of research. The scarce fi nancial conditions in Romania determined many people to search for job opportunities – in particular in agriculture, child or elderly care, or housekeeping – in Andalusia, especially in the provinces of Seville and Huelva. However, during the past period, the economic crisis was strongly putting a mark on the Spanish economy and many of the investigated immigrants were unemployed. Even though, in general, their coming back intentions were not very clear. Socio-economic implications – both positive and negative – arise from the migration process of Romanians to Andalusia, for both the sending and the receiving countries. Remittances, solving shortages on the labor market, or increase in regional and national incomes may fi t in the fi rst category, while the second category may be composed of examples such as families left behind, school dropouts, children involvement in dangerous entourages and/or in illegal activities, tensions on the labor market etc