BN: For those who didn’t have the opportunity to meet you, what can you tell us about yourself?
I would like to start this interview by thanking you for the allotted time and for your interest in my book „The Migration Crisis and Its Influence on the Labour Market in the EU Area”.
In 2020, I completed a doctoral program in the field of Economics and International Business (Bucharest University of Economic Studies), my research activity being awarded with the Magna Cum Laude academic honor of distinction. In this context, I am the author of numerous articles published in national and international scientific journals, focused on the economic and social implications of the migration phenomenon at the European level. From a professional point of view since 2018, I have been working as an expert in the field of European affairs within the Romanian Ministry of Finance.
On a personal level, I am passionate about art and traveling, and in the limited free time that I have available, I choose to express my creativity through writing or painting. I can describe myself as a determined, responsible and persistent person. I believe in the concept of lifelong learning, which is why I frequently engage in study activities, such as seminars and courses targeting current and diverse areas of scientific interest, including: structural reforms; economic governance; labour market; demographic developments; climate change etc.
BN: Where did the desire to write this book come from?
The main motivation that substantiated the research was based on the actuality of the phenomenon, which represents a priority topic on the agenda of the European Union, as well as the controversial debates regarding the acceptance of refugees on European territory, the need to reform the system of granting asylum in Europe, respectively the insufficient approach of this issue in the specialized literature.
Migration is about people. The reasons underlying the decision to leave the country of origin are multiple. If for some people this decision is based on the desire to have a better standard of living or for studies, for others it represents the only option to protect themselves from wars or natural disasters. What are the differences between refugees and economic immigrants? What are the causes and effects of this phenomenon? These are just some of the questions I tried to find answers to.
The quote that stands at the basis of this book is: „A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members” – Mahatma Gandhi.
Migration has become a topic of high importance since 2015, when the massive migration flows started in Europe, which led to the „refugee crisis”, this being considered the most significant humanitarian crisis up to date. At that time, I was studying the phenomenon of migration as part of the research master’s program in the field of European Economy, which I followed within the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, completing the master’s program with a paper focused on the economic and social implications of migration in the EU Member States.
Taking into account the extremely extensive migration developments, namely the fact that this crisis has become one of the EU’s primary challenges in 2016 I made the decision to study this topic in depth as a PhD student. Tackling the challenges stemming from the refugee crisis was all the more necessary as polls indicated an increased concern among European citizens about migration and how it is being managed by the European leaders.
BN: What are the central elements of the book?
The book is structured in two parts. Although the subject is mainly analyzed from an economic perspective, the book presents a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the social, cultural and institutional aspects that derive from the complexity of the phenomenon.
The theoretical framework highlights the onset of the refugee crisis, the theories of migration flows, as well as the global, European and national institutional and legislative framework. The specialized literature I examined considers the principle of free movement in the EU, analyzed from the perspective of the challenges of the Schengen area in the context of migration and the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, the book presents the best performing European asylum systems, the examples of good practices versus barriers to integration on the labor market, as well as the European measures adopted regarding migration management. In addition, the possible economic effects of hosting refugees on European territory were identified, as well as the importance of increasing the financing of measures aimed at managing the migration phenomenon through the EU budget.
A substantial added value of this book is the quantitative analysis. Therefore, the book includes a clustering, through which the states affected by refugee flows were identified and the dynamics and structure of these flows at the European level were analyzed. The last part of the book stands out for its econometric analysis of the determinants of the employment of EU and non-EU immigrants at the European level, the conclusions derived from it being based on modern research techniques and methods.
BN: Who should read this book?
The book is addressed to those who want to know more about the phenomenon of migration and the challenges produced by it. In this sense, the book is addressed to academia, to the institutions with a role in the creation of national policies regarding the management of migration and the integration of refugees/immigrants, but also to the general public.
BN: What feedback have you received on the book so far?
The opinions regarding the research results that are the subject of this book were extremely positive, considering the fact that the technical segments of the research were translated into a colloquial language, understandable to all readers that are interested in the phenomenon of migration and its effects at the European level. In general, the readers appreciated the combination of the theoretical part presented in the book, with the quantitative analysis that brings added value to the researches in this field.
BN: Where can the book be consulted/purchased?
The volume can be consulted in the libraries of the largest university centers in Romania, such as: Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj, Sibiu, Timisoara, Oradea, Constanta, Brasov, as well as in the book collections of some of prestigious institutions, such as the Romanian Academy, the National Bank of Romania, the Parliament of Romania, the Romanian Diplomatic Institute, the European Institute of Romania etc. Regarding the purchase of the book, it can be done from the website of the Didactic and Pedagogical Publishing House.
BN: What are the next steps?
Since this book is currently available exclusively in Romanian, I intend to publish an English version in the future, obviously with the necessary updates, so that it can be accessible to a wider range of readers.
At the same time, I intend to continue researching this phenomenon. 8 years after the start of the refugee crisis, we can see how complex and current this topic has remained. The war between Russia and Ukraine, respectively the flows of refugees arising from this conflict; The issue of free movement and the expansion of the Schengen area, namely the reluctance of some states to give a favorable vote to the candidate countries, migration representing in this case also a reason for skepticism; The sustainability of the European asylum system; The adequate funding of migration management. All this represents part of the set of current challenges, which lead to the need to adapt to the new realities.
BN: Statistics show that people generally do not prioritize reading. Who could change this and how?
Reading is the foundation of the development of nations. That is precisely why awareness of the importance of reading is paramount. Although in recent years numerous campaigns have been carried out to encourage reading, I believe that the passion for reading and knowledge must have an intrinsic basis. Of course, all actors involved in the education process have a big role in promoting the importance of reading, precisely because of this, it is essential that all parties involved have the same goal: to support learning, and finally, the achievement of performance.
BN: Where can our readers follow your activity?
My activity can be followed, both on academic platforms, such as ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Google Scholar, as well as on the professional platform LinkedIn.
BN: Do you have a message for Booknation readers?
The process of studying migration was extensive, this book being based on the findings of the doctoral thesis defended in December 2020. The result of the research is represented by the book called „The Migration Crisis and Its Influence on the Labour Market in the EU Area”, in which the phenomenon is presented in an exhaustive manner, which represents a substantial element in the process of learning about this topic.
I take this opportunity to thank those who supported me in publishing and promoting this book. My message to readers is: keep reading and informing yourself, that way you will stay anchored in reality and open your horizons.
