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The issue of sustainable tourism and its potential contribution to regional development and convergence within the EU has been, in recent years, one of the primary research themes and a constant concern in European policies. However, currently, the European tourism industry is facing a loss in competitiveness at the global level due to a reduction in its share in world tourism and lower average revenues, many regions being in decline and the geographical flows being redirected. Based on these aspects, the present study proposes an analysis from the New Economic Geography perspective, considering two EU countries, a developed one (France), but situated in a tourist sub-region with a declining share in the total international tourist arrivals (Western Europe) and a developing one (Romania), from a growing tourism sub-region (Central/Eastern Europe). Using a comparative analysis at regional level, with three categories of functions - a function of impact (economic, social, environmental), a function of stability and a function of convergence - combined into a matrix model, we achieved an integrated research on the contribution that tourism brings in the two countries in terms of development and regional convergence. Then, we proposed a classification of regions according to the tourism index (mature tourist destinations, less attractive or in the early stage), the conclusions of the paper outlining several action lines for improving competitiveness of tourism in developing regions.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in the European Union economy, with a great contribution to the general dynamic of the integration process and to the fulfillment of the Union strategic objectives. As a result, the last two decades have increasingly associated more to urism with the European policies, in a doctrinaire context defined by the option for sustainable development which correlates sustainable regions, sustainable tourists and sustainable enterprises in an integrated concept in the field of tourism. This paper deeply analyses the way in which the tourism enterprise can be associated with the sustainable development pattern, by valorizing the corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles. The analysis is qualitative, on the specific of the developing tourist destinations. The work is divided into three parts: explanation of the European context, insisting on the main tourism – regional development correlations, from the point of view of the sustainable development pattern; argumentation of the tourism enterprises necessity to take on economic, social and environment responsible practices in the sustainable development of the tourist destinations; the analysis of the advantages of being placed on the alternative markets from the perspective of ensuring the complementarity of the tourist actors and the receiving areas interests in an integrated system of sustainable and responsible management of the tourist region. The analysis leads to the better understanding of the potential contribution which the sustainable practices from the tourist industry can have to the sustainable growth of the developing regions.

L'une des limites spécifiques importantes de l'UE dans sa politique européenne de voisinage est représentée par un rapport inadéquat à la Russie. De cette perspective, ce travail propose une réorientation de la diplomatie publique de l'Union envers la Russie, en tant que dimension de sa communication stratégique. Le concept clé est « l'anti-révolutionnisme » comme trait essentiel des mentalités collectives du peuple russe, à la suite des recherches empiriques faites sur la base d'interviews directes avec des experts russes. ; A General Perspective on the European Union's Public Diplomacy Towards Russia One of the most significant specific limitations of the European Neighborhood Policy is the inadequacy of the European Union's relationship with Russia. From this perspective, this article suggests how the European Union's public diplomacy towards Russia can be reoriented, as a dimension of the EU's strategic communication. Empirical research conducted through direct interviews with Russian experts has brought out a key concept: "anti-revolutionism," understood as an essential trait of the collective mentality of the Russian people.

In the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis, the ongoing debate concerning the best course of action that the West should take in order to better handle Russia still sparks the academia and the decision-makers. Thus, the European continent is once again divided, bringing back chills from the Cold War era. Although the current adopted measures, namely the economic sanctions on Russia's energy and financial sectors, have undoubtedly exerted considerable pressure on the Russian economy, isolating it from the Western world, they have not changed, at least for now, President Putin's overall strategic vision. Within this context, the current paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the nature of the EU and Russia relations, in order to shed some light over the current deadlock. Overall, the research aims, through an interdisciplinary approach to analyse the complex relations between the two actors, based on an evaluation of their economic interdependence and culminating with the exploration of its significance for their international political ties, considering the current economic and political context.

Inthis new work, Pascariu and Duarte, along with an international group ofacclaimed scholars, delve into key challenges currently facing the EuropeanUnion. They Analyze the effect ofperipherality across the EU regions which will be of great interest to thosecountries and regions facing a process of integration.

The EMU debt crisis that emerged in 2010 has identified a group of Southern countries, especially Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy, as low performers exhibiting several seriousmacroeconomic imbalances, and it has also highlighted that EU integration experiencedby Eastern European countries (especially the latter-comers to EU) was not accompanied by a rapid process of real convergence. Since then, the researchabout the effects of peripherality have regained a renewed interest toultimately ground better regional policy recommendations aimed at achieving asustained reduction of income per capita disparities across EU regions. In this new work, Pascariu and Duarte, along with an international group ofacclaimed scholars, delve into key challenges currently facing the EuropeanUnion. They investigate this central question: does the domestic market systemlead to the development of a center-periphery model, by highlight gaps, or doesit support the convergence process? Analyzing the effects of peripheralityacross the EU regions, a two-fold approach is used to deliver policyrecommendations grounded in economic theory, and of interest to other countriesand regions facing a process of integration.

Volume contains the proceedings of the VII International Conference Jean Monnet (13 to 14 May 2011, Iasi), co-funded by the European Commission Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Program in European Studies. Events held under the auspices and promoted by the Center for European Studies, every year, Europe Day, the present edition of the conference Romania and the European Union. Dynamics of the integration process and not only expose the general public, a number of issues facing European economies against the backdrop of the crisis. The volume was prepared with the assistance of several researchers, teachers, specialists in European studies from major universities of the country and the Republic of Moldova. Communications were made around three themes: Where does Europe stand?, Economic Challenges in Romania and EU During the crisis and The dynamics of structural changes and perspectives of integration process.

AbstractThe Russian invasion in Ukraine prompts a range of policy and research challenges, not only on geopolitical issues but also on knowledge capital that is needed for a sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine. This paper seeks to sketch the desired or necessary regional science expertise during the recovery stage of this country ('prosilience'), after a peace agreement has been settled. Based on a systematic interview and questionnaire exercise among Ukrainian experts and stakeholders on regional science matters, the study aims to map out regional science knowledge needs and related initiatives that will have to be materialized with priority in the Ukrainian spatial economy during its post‐war recovery stage. To that end, the study employs a Q‐analysis for examining the strategic research opinions of Ukrainian stakeholders to pave the road for scientifically supported redevelopment strategies. Our results show that regional science can play an important role in the geopolitical conflict in Ukraine, during and after the war.