Target groups

The target groups will be reached and involved in the project as follow:

1. young researchers, by involving them in debates, by encouraging the development of research in the ENP/EaP field, by supporting the evaluation of research results, by fostering dialogue and transfer of knowledge, by offering opportunities for future collaborations, by seeking / finding solutions in order to improve EU's strategy towards its Eastern neighbourhood;

2. professors: by developing their professional competences, by establishing a platform for future collaboration: joint academic programmes (master's and PhD degrees, post-doc opportunities), common research initiative (training visits, documentations centres etc.);

3. civil society: by raising awareness of the potential impact of the diffusion of European ideas, values and principles on the civil society on the long term; UAIC will try to set out this project as a blueprint for future research / educative initiatives which could be launched in the neighbouring countries;

4. the public and private business environment (indirect beneficiaries) by creating a strong network of future specialists in the European studies field;

5. European Union, by increasing the pace of transferring European values beyond the Eastern border, which could in turn reduce border effects;

6. all three centres in European integration from Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, by extendind relations in the education and research fields.
   
   
    

Results
The necessity of such conference in our University is a major one because, firstly, participants will have the chance to improve their theoretical knowledge and professional competencies. Secondly, there is a scarcity of information regarding the impact of the EU's soft & transformative power on its Eastern vicinity. Thirdly, it will also increase people's awareness of the EU's policies towards its neighbourhood, which is now undergoing a process of transition to democracy, market economy, respect for human rights and good governance.
 

Results:

1. About 120 trained MA students, PhD candidates and Post-Doc fellows, academic staff and civil servants and civil society representatives mainly from Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, but also from other neighbouring countries;

2. Established dialogue and cooperation between different stakeholders from EU and ENP/EaP states;

3. Improved understanding of the actual challenges and tendencies in the Eastern dimension of the ENP by including the expertise of the key note speakers;

4. The organising of an international conference “The EU as regional player. Cooperation and integration in Eastern neighbourhood";

5. Publications (edited book with the articles presented at the conference);

6. About 50 published articles in an edited book, with a transnational content with a special focus on the Eastern neighbourhood;

7. The formation of a new generation of specialists in European integration issues (up to 120); for the participants coming from the neighbouring countries will also represent a new experience which could considerably contribute to their theoretical and practical knowledge, taking into account that the organisation of such events is rather rare within their universities;

8. The promotion of the research results to different target groups (MA, PhD, Post-doc fellows, civil society representatives);

9. The organising of two workshops;

10. The organising of one round table;

11. Disseminating project's publications both hard copies and electronically;

12. Dissemination materials (both an informative brochure and leaflets will be produced for the participants and the broad public which will include in a concise and focused approach the latest political, economic and security achievements of the EU in its Eastern neighbourhood);

13. The possibility of multiplication and extension of project results will facilitate the transmission of ideas and solutions generated to the policy-makers and to the civil society, contributing in this way to the enlargement of a necessary dialogue on substantive issues of ENP in neighbourhood's countries.
    
     

Impact

1. Stronger civil and academic society for promoting the EU policies towards its near abroad;

2. Improved knowledge on European Studies with a special focus on the Eastern dimension of the ENP/EaP;

3. Increased awareness of students and young researchers vis-à-vis European matters;

4. Enhanced organisational capacity of the staff members involved in the implementation;

5. Stronger cooperation with other universities/research institutes (both inside and outside EU borders), with the local authorities, mass-media, civil society - transnational cooperation;

6. Institutional development and sustainability in European studies issues;

7. Increased visibility, with the possibility of multiplying the project's results, through the creation of a system of information for target groups (website/forum);

8. The possibility to offer feedback regarding the quality of information/organisation.