16 March 2011 – The Department for European Affairs and the European Institute of Romania organised the debate Romania and Europe: The accumulation of economic gaps (1500-2010).
The event took place Wednesday, 16 March 2010, in the Infoeuropa hall (88 Calea Victoriei) and was attended by professor Bogdan Murgescu, PhD., author of the book with the same title. At the event also attended Răzvan Horaţiu Radu, Under-Secretary of State, Department for European Affairs, Andreea Paul Vass, economic counsellor of the Prime Minister, Constantin Rudniţchi, economic analyst, Cristian Ghinea, Director, Romanian Centre for European Policies, professor Victor Axenciuc, scientist, Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy, professor Gabriela Drăgan, PhD., Director General of the European Institute of Romania.
“Romania’s place in relation with ‘Europe’ – or, more precisely, with the Western world or with the developed countries of the world – was and still is a crucial problem for the Romanian modern culture and for the Romanian present society. For almost two centuries, Europe, seen as the archetype of the developed Western world, has been the main reference element for the Romanian society, object of complex attitudes ranging from admiration and imitation desire to fear and rejection. (…) In these days, when Romania has got decisively closer, from a political point of view, of the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, and the people, together with the members of the Government, are more and more obsessed of the economic problem, these ‘gaps’ are perceived more clearly than ever (…)”.
[Bogdan Murgescu, in “Introduction to the volume Romania and Europe: The accumulation of economic gaps (15002010)“].
The aim of the debates was to identify answers to the following questions: How were the developing gaps existing today in Europe reached? When have the economic differences between Romania and the other European countries been accumulated? Have there been moments when it was possible to overcome the under-development status? Why did these attempts fail? Have similar attempts taken place in other European countries? Were they successful? Why? How? How can the historic experience help in creating efficient policies nowadays?
The group of participants included representatives of the central administration, of universities, researchers, students etc.