sovereignty bargains of romania
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Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
Sarah Musaev
Senior ThesisSpring 2014 - Professor HaegelAmerican University of Paris
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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“Europe? Give me a name and a phone number!”
Henry Kissinger
Table of Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................1
Introduction.....................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1- EU’s interest...................................................................................................1
Chapter 2 –NATO’s push for the EU accession.................................................................2
Chapter 3- Romania’s interests.......................................................................................1
Chapter 4-Romania’s consequences................................................................................1
Conclusions.....................................................................................................................1
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Abstract
Romania’s clearly essential geostrategic location has become an ever-growing
interest for the US, NATO, and most recently the EU. The principle of this thesis is to
depict the interest based acceleration of integration pushed for by NATO and the
European Union, as well as why the 2007 accession was not purely in the interest of
Romania. It is essential to shed light on the EU vs. RO gains and the asymmetry of this
situation. Moreover, a few of the domestic consequences that Romania must endure
due to the overlooked pivotal feats such as corruption and political instability. As the
European Union is extremely optimistic that one day all of Europe will be a single
dominant superpower, euro-skepticism sentiments increasingly grow. The undeniable
loss of sovereignty and imposed pressures to conform abide to a higher power for a
final scope of a federalization of Europe turns out to be an unrealistic utopian ideal.
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Introduction-
In the 2003 country report prepared by Baroness Emma Nicholson, the European
parliamentary group Christian-Democrats, noted that " the completion of accession
negotiations in late 2004 and the complete integration in 2007, are impossible if
Romania does not solve two structural problems: the eradication of corruption and the
implementation of both economic and social reforms. Recommendations for Romanian
authorities concerned: anti-corruption measures, creating an independently functional
judiciary system, freedom of the press, and ending police abuse. As a result, Romania
reacted immediately by creating an action plan for the years before accession.
Romania's integration in the European Union economically means to create a
free trade market, economic and financial cooperation, EU support for the restructuring
of the Romanian economy and the political establishment of an institutional framework
for achieving a permanent political dialogue between the parties.
Bilateral trade is expected to create a free trade area, which will result in the
gradual elimination of tariff, and non-tariff barriers that currently exist in trade relations
between Romania and the European Union -these concern industrial products except,
textiles, steel and agricultural commodities (raw, low processed and processed). The
Free Trade aspect of integration is planned to be conducted in a gradual 10-year
transition period. The transition period is asymmetric in terms of tax rate reduction and
elimination on Romania side, thereby giving it a longer period of time to open its market
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to imports from the EU. If the European Union is committed to eliminate all tariffs and
quantitative fences through the first stages of this period, Romania will be obliged to do
this at the end of the second stage.
The European Union is an integrationist and strategic entity, based on
institutionalized multilateral cooperation in order to create a monetary and economic,
social and political unification, capable of generating a multiplier effect that can
ultimately lead to a higher welfare than any individual country would be capable of.
The European Union has become stronger both by increasing its allies as well as
by strategically enlarging the Union. From the three European Communities (coal, steel
and atomic energy) to the Europe of today, the countries of the longstanding continent
have come a long way. For example, Switzerland, who has not voted to enter the
European Economic Area, refused integration to the European Union or Norway who
wanted to join the Union, but after two referendums the people chose to be independent
and for Norway to preserve its economic sovereignty. Even Morocco sought for EU
accession, but the request was rejected due to the Rome Statute's requirement- that
member states must be in Europe. But the European Union is still dealing with these
challenges and present to achieve two main goals: deepen political integration and
eastward expansion. The European Union is primarily an element of stability in the
world; from its decided establishment it has maintained over fifty years of peace on the
continent.
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A major achievement of the EU is a single free market, which contributed to the
prosperity of Member States and EU citizens as well as enabled Europe to become an
essential economic force in the world of competition and globalization.
For Europe to become a model of security, freedom and participation, countries
wishing to join the European Union, must work together to the "deepening" of Europe,
by promoting the kind of solidarity that will provide all citizen a European status, one
that already exists between nationals of Member States, a solidarity without
discrimination based on national prerogatives and democratic freedoms as well as
equal treatment of citizens of Member States. At the same time the Union aims to
transform the European project closer to the interests and needs of the citizens, one of
equal opportunities for all individuals and systematized in a more active and effective
structure externally.
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Chapter 1- European Union’s Interests
I will try to highlight some of the benefits or interests that the EU pursues in
Romania and its neighbors that are not yet part of the Union. I will start with the
countries of South Caucasus, as now the European Union tends to eastward expansion,
namely the European Union aims to joining Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992, three new states emerged in
the South Caucasus region, the successors of the former Soviet republics: Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia (formerly Gruzia, in Soviet times). They were not sovereign
states, except for a brief period after the Bolshevik revolution (1917-1922, Democratic
Republic of Armenia). The Caucasus is located in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea and
Central Asia regions holding important natural reserves of oil and gas.
In some cases, the involvement of the European Union is seen as essential only
for a long-term plan of stability. The main instrument of the EU in the South Caucasus is
the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). In it, the countries of the region play an
important role, especially in terms of establishing the security required in the proximity
of the European Union. In this context, the existence of frozen conflicts in the Caucasus
region merely arouse concern for European Chancelleries, who needed to address or at
least neutralize existing threats. Due to the proximity of the area of Russia, the
European Neighborhood Policy is limited to express positions of principle and invite the
Russian Federation to cooperate.
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An important European document for the South Caucasus is the «Black Sea
Synergy". This summarizes the areas of interest in cooperation between the European
Union and its bordering countries in the region: democracy, human rights and good
governance, cross-border traffic, "frozen" conflicts, energy, transport, environmental
protection, maritime policy, fisheries, trade, research and education, science and
technology, employment, and regional development. The main programs imagined, in
this context, aims to: develop civil society, local cooperation, cultural and educational
exchanges, free trade, adjoin international financial institutions such European
Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD).
Likewise, Romania's initiative was established as well as a new structure of
cooperation, the Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership, which proved to be
unsuccessful. Unfortunately, initiatives aimed at the Black Sea focused more on
Georgia rather than other Caucasus states. In terms of concrete energy there was the
Baku Initiative, which aimed at better cooperation between countries in the region and
the European Union to ensure a mutual beneficial energy security program INOGATE
(Interstate Oil and Gas pipelines to Europe). This plan provides a structured blueprint
for transit energy from Central Asia and the Caspian Sea to the European Union and
the TRACECA program (transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Central Asia), cogitating
the development of infrastructure: transport (road, rail, air and sea) between Central
Asia and Europe. These initiatives are central axis of European policy in the area, in
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addition to various pipeline projects, with the particular territories of Georgia and
Azerbaijan. Of these the most important is the Nabucco project, which aims to connect
the Baku - Erzurum region (in some versions of the plan include pipeline connections
from Tabriz - Erzurum) with a European projection route through Romanian, Hungarian
and Austrian territories.
The main weakness of the European Union's position in the region lies in the fact
that it did not differentiate its policy with each of the three countries involved (it took a
rather general approach), given that the situation and the position of each state is
different (what can be said about every Member State in the Union). This inconsistency
is aims to mask the discomfort of European institutions in adopt a position that would
favor one side or another (especially in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, but also in the
Russian-Georgian conflict), in efforts to maintain cordial relations with all actors involved
and to benefit from the presumption of impartiality. However in reality, even Member
States embrace contradictory positions.
The only aspect over which the European Union has an advantage over is the
fact that it signed a "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" with Armenia and
Azerbaijan (in 1996, which entered into force in 1999). Likewise, it entered into a "Joint
Action Plan" with Georgia (in 2006) within the European Neighborhood agreement,
which was considered by the administration in Tbilisi as a first step towards joining the
European Union.
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In the case of Azerbaijan, the Plan of Action was signed in November of 2006,
while for Armenia there are ongoing discussions to sign a similar agreement. However,
the European Neighborhood Policy does not currently have a satisfactory framework for
furthering the development of relations with those countries.
Regarding the relationship with Azerbaijan, the EU established foundational
prerequisites, a first step, for a more concrete EU involvement in the region. Bilateral
relations between Romania and Azerbaijan have been consistently good since the
Caucasian state independence of 1991; Romania was the second country to recognize
Azerbaijan as a sovereign state after Turkey.
With the Romanian accession to the European Union, the good relations
between the two countries have been transferred as well as the EU's relations with the
partnering Caucasian states. Given that Romania is, at this time, the Union's
easternmost border, the Unions interests are to have an active policy in the Black Sea
region and in the vicinity of the European Union. The potential transfer of good
cooperation with Azerbaijan across the EU could be a first real contribution from the
Romanian state, which would clarify and expand EU foreign policy in the Caucasus
region. Good political relations with Romania and Azerbaijan in general, with the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, are assured means for good economic and
political relations. The European Union will essentially win alliance with Azeri state,
making this a guarantee in a policy to promote international law and to restore the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
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EU's interest in the South Caucasus refers to achieving political and economic
stability, peace building and conflict elimination of potential expansion, to maintain a
free transit area and even constructing a free economic zone in the region.
Strengthening democratic institutions is just one of the tools to achieve these regional
objectives. To satisfy their own interests, the EU should identify the main pivot, which is
Azerbaijan. Therefore, it must have a special political relationship built with the Azeri
state. The main factor promoting this policy is to find a consistent strategy to solve the
crisis in Nagorno –Karabakh, on the principles of territorial integrity and national self-
determination. It is vital to keep in mind that Azerbaijan is the most economically
developed country in the region and has the most potential for development in the area.
An imperative role for concentrating European states and initiating the integration
process in its current sense is awarded to Jean Monnet, due to which the first steps
were made in order to achieve a new European unity. The acting head of the National
Organization of planning in France, proposed that the production of coal and steel in
France and Germany id to be administered by a supranational body. On 9 May 1950,
Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister launched a statement inspired by Jean
Monnet, proposing the creation of a market for coal and steel, to be conducted
according to national methods involving a rupture of traditional schemes between
states. Achieving this market was a first step towards the development that we know
today for European countries. The system created by the three treaties (ECSC, EEC,
EAEC) developed in two main directions. The first direction considered improving
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community institutions, and the second followed the expansion Communities by
attracting new member states.
Black sea region
The Black Sea region has a strategic importance that is given to the rich natural
resources, particularly oil and gas that has a potential market of over 350 million
consumers. The cumulative trade region accounts for over 5% of the world's trade. The
strategic component of the region has increased in recent years due to the outbreak of
anti-terrorist campaigns, and the Unites States is also interested in developments in the
region; while the European Union assists the countries of the area due to the New
Neighborhood Policy (ENP).
The evolution of economic cooperation in the Black Sea region can be divided
into three stages:
- The initial formation which lacked results due to unclear organization which
lasted until the meeting in Bucharest in 1996, when foreign ministers adopted a "Plan of
Action" which as a result improved cooperation;
- The introduction of the Ministerial Troika system input, during which began the
joint financing of the Permanent's International Secretariat (PERMIS) from Istanbul and
intensified meetings at all levels. In June 1998, in Yalta, was the signing of the "Charter
of the BSEC"(black sea economic cooperation).
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- The final stage was the adoption of regional organization characteristics.
Interests in Romania also include a corridor for closer Europe-Asia relations; not
only considering necessary energy supply but also that the Caucasus-Caspian region
may eventually become one of the most dynamic economic areas of the world, which
would result in massive revenues for the entire zone including the TRACECA countries.
Romania has many bilateral advantages thus being a center of interest for the
international community: it has direct rail links with all countries of the CIS; it provides a
direct connection with Central Asian countries via Iran and Turkey by the ferry from
Constanta to Samsun; it has the largest and best equipped port on the Black Sea; it has
a great underused capacity in the refining and petrochemical industries; it is a potential
candidate for political, economic integration and European security.
Statistics show that the EU has exported to countries in Central and Eastern
Europe more than it imported from there. However, employment in these countries
covers basic gaps in the labor market in the West. Romania has highly qualified
specialists employed in IT companies in Germany and other countries, and many young
men and women in Romania provide operation services in hospitals, hotels and
restaurants, but also in other countries such as Italy and Portugal. Moreover, Romania
has become a major exporter of skilled and less skilled labor.
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EU AN NATO INTERESTS ARE STRATEGIC GEOPOLITICAL
After the events of September 11, US pushed western European countries to
increase their inclinations to be more permeable for imports of labor from the candidate
countries –because there was indeed a need for such, especially considering the Bush
administration and the Iraq war. There existed objective and subjective elements which
in essence strengthened the Romanian-American relationship (at a political level) to
fluctuate due to the strategic opportunity for the United States who as a result pushed
for a rapid admission to NATO.
Romania applied to join NATO since 1994 (shortly after the fall of communism)
but was constantly critiqued and denied admission due to the ongoing domestic
complications. From every angle it was viewed as an unstable country that did could not
qualify due to the lack of standards (military, economic, political, internal corruption,
etc.). In January 2001 began the evaluation for the candidacy of Romania run by
general Popescu and secretaries of state. While the conclusions did not seem favorable
for its admission “we are politically unstable, we do not have money, as for the money
we were expecting from the Americans for concrete expenses were already spent in
other areas”- Popescu. Therefore the only value that Romania had was the massive
support for NATO admission by the US.
Shortly after the shameful report was released Secretary General Edgar Buckley
in January 2001 claimed “that despite the domestic instability, Romania will surely be
admitted in the Alliance by the year 2004”. The other candidate states which were
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Estonia and Lithuania were on a promising path of fulfilling the preconditions of NATO,
while their strategic ramifications for their accessions did not seem beneficial. Romania
and Bulgaria had a contrary problem, the incapacity of fulfilling the conditions while their
geopolitical location at the time seemed of more importance due to the Iraq war.
On the one hand, the U.S. presidential teams promoted accession by presenting
their approaches regarding the Middle East situation, including the Israeli – Palestinian
conflict (through direct dialogue or " proxies " ); their interest in maintaining "small fires"
of extra space conflict - European interest " military - industrial complex " U.S. - as an
outlet for the sale of military equipment . Moreover, the conflict in Iraq (the first) gave
Romania the opportunity to capitalize on their position at the UN and help in negotiating
resolutions in August 1990 and the following months. The second conflict allowed
Romania to promote their geostrategic position through the Cogalniceanu
base in Dobrogea making it readily available to Americans .
It was found that the number of troops deployed in Iraq was the most
significant, but sometimes it was more important political support , logistics
and intelligence .
On the other hand, some developments in post- revolution Romania did not
initially convince Americans that Romania can be a reliable partner in Eastern Europe:
as it was recently out of communism on the " left side" of history (there were numerous
allegations of crypto- neo –communism sentiment for some governments); low
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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maintenance of structures of the security; failure to follow bi -partisan politics (power -
opposition ) in large projects of foreign policy; the partial reservations in the democratic
party that expressed opposition in connection with the bombing of Belgrade; Hungarian
lobby oppositions in the U.S. and pressures in Budapest; as well as the economic and
military instability, etc. . It should be noted, however, that despite these unfavorable
fluctuations, at the political level, there was a very intense relationship and effective
military level between the two countries (Mil -to –Mil programs).
Shortly after a reevaluation and push from the Bush administration, Great Britain as
well as other countries began to be more inclined for the admission (though their
sentiments were not exactly enthusiastic).
- changed nato port for the war----- in 2001 the perspective changed to a more favorable one for admition due to the events that were occurring ( bush admin- Iraq war) Ro admitted to nato- to use Romanian airbase in dobroja 2 hrs to bagdad. Article page 32 even better article on Romania nato irak - http://nastase.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/lumea-americanii-si-noi-iv-razboiul-din-irak-2003-2011/
-
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Chapter 2- Romania’s Overlooked Domestic Concerns
- Depite all of the EU’s interests to proceeded with the acceleration of integration to the eu they overlooked the major domestic structural problems that Romania has-
- Major overlooked factors overlooked by decision makers in the eu council was the cultural and social ethicals readiness of Romania. A serious feat that was overlooked- romanias internal problems such as corruption, money laundering ta evasion.
- http://store.ectap.ro/articole/529_ro.pdf - therefore not accepted in the interest of Romania- as it is not up to par
with nearly any of the qualifications of the Lisbon treaty –
Chapter 3- Romania’s Interests
Free movement of persons (workers) within the Member States of the European
Union is a mutually advantageous feat that became fully implemented on January 1st
2014. Meaning that Romanian's are now removed from border control within the
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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European community, and are no longer subjected to special requirements or
formalities (in theory any European citizen benefits from this). Ultimately, citizens of new
EU members (including Romania) were subject to transitional measures, which limited
their access to the labor market of the initial Member States for a period not exceeding
seven years. Transitional arrangements for the free movement of workers were agreed
between old and new Member States, maintaining the prior accession systems, in which
a citizen of a future member would need a work permit to work in the EU.
ADD MORE ABOUT JAN 1st working rights
Free Movement of goods is also among the many gains of Romanian integration.
The Treaty establishing the EEC signed in Rome to set up a common market that are
aimed to eliminate trade barriers between Member States. This act sought the greatest
possible liberalization of goods trade between the signatory states through a customs
union. A common market shall be progressively established during a transitional period
of twelve years for Romania. The community is based on a customs union comprising
all trade in goods, which shall involve the prohibition between Member States of
customs duties on imports and exports, and of all charges having equivalent effect on
the adoption of a common customs tariff in their relations. Provisions shall apply to
products originating in Member States and to products coming from excluded countries.
Products from excluded countries are considered free circulation in a Member
State if the import formalities have been fulfilled and were charged within the Member
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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State. In the case of customs duties and charges with an equivalent effect who have not
received a full or partial refund of these taxes and charges. Within the first year of this
Treaty, the Commission sets out methods of taking into account the need to reduce
formalities imposed on trade as much as possible. By the end of the first year of the
entry into force of the Treaty, the Commission shall, in trade between Member States,
the provisions applicable to goods originating in another Member State, to manufacture
products which were used which were exempted in the exporting Member State
customs duties and charges having equivalent effect or which have benefited from a
total or partial drawback of such duties or charges.
Freedom to provide services, Member States must ensure that the right of
establishment and freedom to provide services throughout the EU is not hampered by
national legislation. In some sectors, the acquis prescribes harmonized rules which
must be observed to the internal market, this concerns mainly the financial sector
(banking, insurance, investment services and securities markets ) but also some
specific professions (craftsmen , farmers, traders) . Also, follow harmonized rules on
personal data protection and certain information society services.
Free movement of capital, Member States must remove all restrictions in national
legislation on capital movements between them (with some exceptions), and adopt EU
rules to guarantee the proper functioning of cross- border payments and transfers of all
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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forms of capital. The acquis also includes harmonized rules on payment systems.
Laundering directives establish money laundering as a crime. They require financial
institutions to identify and know their customers, keep appropriate records and report
any suspicions of money laundering (which is currently not being done in RO).
Directives are addressed also to the work of auditors, accountants, notaries and
lawyers, casinos, real estate agents and certain operators who trade valuables
transactions involving large amounts. It is necessary to have an adequate
implementation capacity.
Chapter 4- Romania’s Consequences
However one would try to put everything in a balance it looks as though Romania
is not exactly a winner in the game, as the consequences following its addition in the EU
outweighed the few profitable aspects of this bargain. Two incredibly prominent
consequences that Romania has been confronted with since 2007 were: the drastic
decline of agriculture (due to imposed EU sanctions) as well as a visible decline of
sovereignty.
AGRICULTURE
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Asymmetric concessions of the agreement with the EU protected
many agricultural products from competition with those of Romania, the
CEFTA brought significant deficits in this area of trade, Romania's foreign
trade products being less competitive than the main partners because of
the difference in productivity.
Imports of agricultural products from the EU represents about 7 % the
CEFTA area being 27.34 % of the total which goes to show that Romania
already has to deal with European competition through intermediaries
therefore passing tariff barriers. EU accession countries in the first wave
made agricultural trade deficit to worsen rapidly, as other comparative
advantages of Romania decline as well.
Romanian agriculture will not be able to face the rigors requirements
of the CAP without a strong state intervention to capitalize the sector in
the accession, although there are clear signs of carrying the increasingly
difficult rigors preconditions of CAP in Europe ( eg the Netherlands ). This
will not change because of the strong lobbying exerted by EU producers.
It is possible, however, that EU farmers will be drawn to this, with the
accession of Romania, in order to achieve an organic production on land
which rested more than 15 years. For example in Spain where, with the
entry into the EEC the income of producers doubled inconclusively.
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Romania has the highest level of employment in agriculture standing at
27.9% .
The agriculture sector, whose production is based on small farms using
intensive labor, will have to face the largest restructuring of labor, so a good
part of the integration cost will be paid by those employed in agriculture.
Besides unemployment there may be psychological or transfer costs.
Needless to say, agriculture is nearly nonexistent due to EU imposed
sanctions as Romania entered as one of most important producers in Europe
and in less than 5 years it became one of the largest importers of agricultural
products in Europe. Thus, finding Romanian agriculture products today may
be considered a luxury.
-Sovereignty declines and conforms
Reactia anti-brussles - norways refusal (example) france germany- there exists an anti-eu sentiment. anti European climate that’s emerging throughout Europe because of beurocracy and lack of legitimacy.
http://www.timpul.md/articol/reactiile-anti-ue--dincolo-de-limita-28897.html
http://www.moldovenii.md/en/news/view/section/16/id/7801
-Changing the notion of sovereignty is a consequence of integration
No longer national all depend on brussles. European common defense is a falirue – no French or british wanted to give up their reign over defense issues-
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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Each state, more or less powerful struggles to achieve their goals, and those
goals will never be equally noted with everyone to attempt to maintain peace and
understanding. Indeed states become more democratic, or at least, fight for human
rights, but the reality is essentially different. We live in a modern age with a "modern
war" where democracy is a pretext for a sovereign, independent, and where each state
sees its own interests, defending themselves with " their arms" or threats. There is no
end to the people's desires for power. And if there is a unified power on this earth at
some point, the requirements will be the same.
Romania sees the relationship with the European Union a significant opportunity
to overcome backwardness trap and secular aspirations of modernization, and
integration would put it safe from instability and turmoil in the rest of the world space.
However, sustained economic growth is a phenomenon rarely met. In Western Europe,
Ireland is the most interesting case . It is true that Spain in particular and Portugal have
evolved changed for the better after ending the dictatorships - of Franco , respectively
Salazar - but none of them had growth rates as in Ireland.
Note that the entry into the European Union , Ireland had income / capita of 59 %
of the EU average while Greece , the date of entry ( in 1981 ) the figure stood at 77 % .
For 1998 , income / capita in Ireland exceeds the EU average , while Greece was down
to 66 % of this average .
Sovereignty Bargains of Romania's EU Integration
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For Romania the lack of appropriate institutions and responsible public policy it
will be virtually impossible to meet the rapid economic development needs, and without
such dynamics it will be increasingly difficult to join the club of European countries that
prosper. Romania has a per capita income that is about. 27-28 % of the EU average
while being a country with a relatively large population (compared to European
standards).
For years, some EU politicians and opinion leader s from Western European
countries are discussing the benefits and costs of EU enlargement .
A few words about dollarization / euroisation. Those who advocate this monetary
arrangement appear to devise economic space which would apply to the scheme as a
mere "annex", with complex internal life. They omit, for example, the consequences of a
major trade deficit, which automatically reduces the amount of severe domestic
currency (without Central Bank can intervene to May), which would cause a major
deflation and recession, economic unbearable and social. In addition the domestic
banking system would be under pressure due to high interest terrible.
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Conclusions:
Note that the EU’s approaches are not strictly in the interest of Romania. It has
obligations to its European partners as well as pressures from NATO. As a border
country of the two structures - the EU and NATO – it has to promote the interests of
these structures not only their own interests.
To become a zone of peace, the Black Sea should be removed from the
influence of Russia and I am convinced that it will accept a process more or less rapid
of internationalization of the Black Sea, given the strategic importance of the extended
Black Sea already acquired.
Future of the Black Sea may be promising, given that the strengths of this area
are amazing: at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, it represents a strategic challenge
and a very common crossing point whose natural resources are immense.
In the context of globalization where intersecting interests of the great powers,
cross-border cooperation becomes paramount for the development of the region. In this
regard, local authorities are on the first place because they depend on understanding
regional threatened by deep contradictions inherited from the past, the meeting of two
distinct civilizations and inequality .
Among the few advantages I have identified for Romania are:
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- Free movement of persons (workers) that can work in any member state of the
European Union ;
- Free movement of goods, export of goods duty free EU states ;
- Free movement of capital;
- Free movement of services;
- The possibility of citizens to conduct projects to receive funding from the European
Union amounts substantially the view sustainers of business .
The disadvantages of integration :
Theoretically there are countless disadvantages explained by scientists and
those who work in this system, some of them have been mentioned above, which have
been drastically affected by the entry into the European Union. Maybe Romania or
rather those who run the country, do everything to be in good order, which is
established by them. In recent years, or the last 7 years since RO joined the European
Union, citizens have managed to seek advantages and disadvantages Romanian
integration in the European Union. Every day they are overwhelmed by rules adopted
by the corrupt politicians who run the country, and the public opinion is that it is not the
EU to blame, but rather the people in power in our country. All these recent legislative
decisions Romania has recently made to attempt to conform to EU standards
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substantially affect its citizens in a negative manner, and have affected their status in
society, all parts of work in the financial systems, agriculture and even human psyche.
Even though the public belief is that European Union integration may lead to certain an
overall more beneficial outcome, they omit to take into consideration the immeasurable
damaging outcomes that the loss of sovereignty and rough monetary/economic
transition will ensure, the imagined long term benefits of evolving are merely a myth.
The asymmetrical situation and problems it will face in the following years will merely
lead to the countries demise. The accession will merely worsen the economic situation
and will only bind Romania to a failing utopian ideal. Though many believe that the
euro-zone will stand strong, skepticism continues to grow throughout the countries that
are the backbone of the European economy (respectively Germany). “An inharmonious
new voice is emerging- anti-Muslim, anti-elite, anti-globalization and increasingly anti-
Brussels”, while disapproval rates skyrocket, even in newly joined member states.
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