Ediția de vară a revistei academice Romanian Journal of European Affairs prezintă cititorilor o selecție de subiecte de actualitate din domeniul afacerilor europene. În acest număr, cercetători din Europa abordează următoarele teme de interes: securitatea Europei în contextul relației transatlantice, relația dintre Europa și regiunea indo-pacifică în contextul tranziției ordinii internaționale, apartenența la Uniunea Europeană ca element asigurator pentru investițiile străine directe, digitalizarea diplomației Uniunii Europene, cadrul de analiză pentru transformarea digitală, provocări privind stabilitatea monetară în parcursul european al Republicii Moldova, convergența Est-Vest prin creșterea conectivității pe axa Nord-Sud a continentului european.
Guest article: The Security of Europe (EU) and Real Politik – The Transatlantic Relationship is in Great Danger
Daniel Dăianu
Abstract
The logic of realpolitik dominates once more the international relations in a world buffeted by multiple challenges and shocks – economic and geopolitical shocks, societal crises, backsliding into authoritarianism, rising protectionism and the erosion of multilateralism in international relations, climate change, the impact of artificial intelligence/AI, etc. The EU can no longer rely unconditionally on its strongest NATO ally (the US), and the new budgetary dilemmas entailed by the need to strengthen its own defence will likely ask for difficult policy trade-offs that could add to social discontent. At its creation, the EU’s primary aim was to safeguard peace on the European continent while the US provided a strong security backstop. Over the decades, this aim has been gradually eclipsed by the goal of economic prosperity or of regaining vigour (as in recent years), but lately it has come again to the forefront, as the ghosts of past animosities and ordeals haunt the European continent, with a war of attrition raging at its gates. The highly turbulent and uncertain international context complicates Romania’s dire budgetary situation. Fiscal consolidation is a must for Romania’s economic security, as it suffers from an acute “twin deficits” syndrome. Europe needs badly a new security architecture, which requires US involvement as well. The EU needs to get a new momentum.
Keywords: Realpolitik, multipolarity, anocracy, autocracy, EU, US, NATO, trade war, budgetary constraints, Romania.
Europe and Indo-Pacific in the World Order Transition
Fulvio Attinà
Abstract
The current transition of the world order involves clusters of states with different views on how to address global challenges. The article focuses on the relations between Europe and Indo-Pacific Asia, which are of primary concern to EU policymakers. The article is an account of the specificities and similarities of these international regions that have significant potential for the evolution of the world order. The article explains that the membership in existing or emerging coalitions is at the root of the different positions adopted by China and the EU member states. The conclusions emphasise that the transition process requires states in both regions to formulate world order projects based on global consensus.
Keywords: International order, international regions, Europe, European Union, Indo-Pacific Asia.
Attitudes towards Russia in a Country bordering War-torn Ukraine: Antecedents, Prevalence, and Consequences for Voting Behaviour
Nicoleta Corbu, Oana Ștefăniță, Flavia Durach, Loredana Vladu
Abstract
The war in Ukraine has raised many questions about how people in bordering countries react to such a conflict. Do they understand its stakes? How do they form their opinions about the belligerent parties, and what influences their attitudes and their domestic political choices? In this context, using a national survey (N=1000) with control variables for religiosity, education, and gender, we examine how the Romanians’ attitudes towards the Russian Federation are shaped by their political knowledge, conspiracy mindset, and media consumption and trust. We found that people prone to take pro-Russia attitudes usually have lower levels of political knowledge, hold conspiracy beliefs, consume and trust more the news disseminated through social media, and are more likely to vote with extreme right-wing parties. Religiosity and gender are also important aspects that influence people’s attitudes in the sense that more religious males take a more positive stance towards Russia.
Keywords: Attitudes towards Russia, conspiracy beliefs, media trust, extreme right-wing party, Romania.
European Union Membership as a Shield? Corruption and Foreign Investment in Romania
Alexandra Horobeț, Mihai Cazacu, Oana Cristina Popovici, Cristiana Coman, Ioana Luciana Grozea
Abstract
This study examines the intricate relationship between corruption and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Romania, an emerging market and a European Union Member State that is undergoing significant institutional transformation. Through a comprehensive questionnaire distributed to Romanian businesses, the research investigates how corruption perceptions impact investment environments and strategic decision-making. The research reveals a nuanced business landscape, where approximately 70% of respondents express moderate satisfaction with the current investment climate, while acknowledging persistent challenges coming from institutional inefficiencies and corruption. Findings indicate that although explicit bribery is not widespread, corrupt practices permeate transactional processes across public and private sectors, potentially influencing the investment dynamics. An interesting finding is the almost overwhelming acknowledgement of Romania’s membership in the European Union as a comparative advantage for doing business in the country. The paper contributes to the limited literature on country-specific corruption perceptions by providing empirical insights into Romania’s unique context, considering its European Union membership and postcommunist transition. Key recommendations include the development of governmental infrastructure, enhanced regulatory practices, and targeted anti-corruption strategies. Acknowledging its methodological limitations, particularly the low response rate, the research calls for further investigations that extend the analysis at the level of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and explore how anti-corruption policies might influence FDI presence.
Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), corruption, institutional quality, Romania, emerging markets.
JEL classification: F21, D73, O52, K42.
The Digitalization of EU’s Diplomacy – Features of Economic Diplomacy
Cătălina Bratosin-Vasilache, Liviu-George Maha
Abstract
Technological advancements, alongside the constant evolution and expansion of the topics which are analysed at the global level, have contributed to the metamorphosis of public diplomacy, in an effort to address the contemporary global challenges. Nowadays, diplomatic practices are subject to a continuous process of digitalization that makes use of tools that not only enhance communication and outreach, but also strive to improve cost effectiveness and operational efficiency. Nevertheless, it cannot be overlooked that the digitalization of diplomacy also gives rise to a number of modern issues, such as cybersecurity threats or disinformation, which are shaped by each region’s particular geopolitical and economic factors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of digitalization in diplomacy, exposing both its opportunities and threats, underlying the particularities of European economic diplomacy. In order to thoroughly analyse the existing scientific research on the matter and with the intention of offering an in-depth perspective and understanding of the digitalization of European economic diplomacy, a systematic literature review has been conducted, of the refereed articles, published between 2013-2025 in high-impact journals
Keywords: Economic diplomacy, digitalization, European economic diplomacy.
JEL classification: F50, F51, F53.
A Framework Analysis of Digital Transformation: Insights from the Romanian National Recovery and Resilience Plan
Laura-Elena Marinaș, Alina-Camelia Belciu (Vasilescu), Elena-Simona Ionel
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the digital transformation (DT) framework embedded in the Romanian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). We employed a combination of research methods to achieve the objectives of this paper. We depict and analyse the logic of the NRRP in relation to the DT framework derived from scholarly literature, the European Union’s (EU) Digital Decade, and the priorities and targets of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Despite the fact that reforms and investments aligned with EU’s priority policy areas are structured around a catch-up approach, the NRRP plays a crucial role as a catalyst for a comprehensive and coherent digitalisation strategy. We conclude that the NRRP not only functions as a funding instrument, but also plays a pivotal role in shaping Romania’s strategic framework for DT.
Keywords: Digital transformation, Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania, European Union, Digital Decade.
JEL classification: O5, O3, H8.
Monetary Stability Challenges characterising the European Integration Process of the Republic of Moldova
Dorina Clichici, Andreea – Emanuela Drăgoi, Tatiana Covalschi
Abstract
For more than 20 years, the Republic of Moldova has been carrying out a multitude of economic reforms aimed at getting closer to the European Union (EU). Despite the remarkable results culminating in the status of EU candidate country, the Moldovan economy continues to struggle with a high vulnerability to internal and external shocks, which generates major fluctuations in prices and in the exchange rate. This
volatility greatly affects the macroeconomic stability, undermining the national objective of economic growth and, ultimately, the efforts to increase economic convergence with the EU. Against this background, the paper aims to identify the main challenges to monetary stability in the Republic of Moldova since the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU, and to uncover the ways in which monetary policy has so far dealt with major shocks. Moreover, it aims to analyse the degree of convergence with the EU regarding price and exchange rate stability of the Republic of Moldova over the last ten years. The findings highlight that the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) managed to restore monetary stability thanks to its prompt and large-scale actions. However, significant convergence gaps in terms of price stability do persist between the Republic of Moldova and the EU.
Keywords: Price stability, exchange rate stability, monetary policy, Republic of Moldova, European integration.
JEL classification: E50, E52, E 58, F15.
“East-West” Convergence through “North-South” Connectivity: A Decade of the Three Seas Initiative’s Contribution to the European Union
Octavian-Dragomir Jora, Konrad Popławski, Małgorzata Samojedny, Mihai Sebe
Abstract
Created in a region long marred by historical fracture – self-positioned as Central-European, yet deemed peripheral in inertial cartographies –, the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) has emerged as a quietly potent framework for transforming a once marginal geopolitical space into a hub of purposeful convergence. Situated along the European Union’s North-South axis and aspiring to bridge the East-West divides, the 3SI is less an institutional heavyweight than a nimble political platform – non-institutionalised by design, yet deeply strategic in intent. Encompassing 13 EU Member States – and flanked by transatlantic allies and regional associates –, it aims not to multiply its reach indiscriminately, but to deepen impact where it counts: infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity. Against the backdrop of revived geopolitical rivalries and a brutal war in its vicinity, the 3SI serves as both buffer and bond – aligning shared historical, cultural, and institutional legacies with a forward-looking pro-Euro-Atlantic compass. This research probes whether, over the past decade, the 3SI has truly functioned as a mechanism for intra and inter-EU convergence, offering a resilient, adaptive answer to lingering asymmetries that might undermine unity or fuel discontent regionally. By observing key indicators of economic development (GDP and GDP/per capita growth) and public finance discipline (gross public debt levels) across time and across countries, we find the 3SI “bloc” exhibiting evidence of robust above-EU average performance, indicative of convergent trajectories within the EU.
Keywords: Three Seas Initiative, Central and Eastern Europe, (sub)regional cooperation, European integration, geopolitics, geoeconomics.
JEL classification: F02, H54, N44, P48.