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At present, there is a lot of interest in finding new energy sources because energy consumption is much above energy production. Geo-thermal energy is part of the category of renewable energies and a non-polluting green energy. Humans have used hot water springs from times immemorial for different purposes. Statistics show that Romania has an outstanding potential in geo-thermal water resources: it ranks third in Europe after Greece and Italy. However, geo-thermal waters are underestimated. The authors of this paper present the main localities in the Western Plain with geo-thermal resources and point out the possibilities of valorising them thus contributing to the development of the communities in the context of circular economic development. Geothermal waters can be used to heat dwellings (buildings, tap water, greenhouses, etc.), to produce electricity at very low costs and to develop tourism activities that could contribute to the economic growth of the area. The research confirms that in Romania there are many places that have geo-thermal water, but investments in this area are needed. Geothermal energy can, at least at local level, contribute significantly to the decrease of fossil fuel consumption economically competitive, thus leading to a decrease of imports of fossil fuels and of combustion pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the relation of creative industry and its position in current European Union Industry policy, where in the long-term run it plays determining role within the industry structure of European Communities countries. The meaning of creative industry within the European Union Industry policy structure is more and more actual because it contributes to the European prosperity and European economy is depended on the vitality of its industry. EU Industry policy includes the set of activities what is the means of how the EU tries to affect the efficiency of processing and services sectors, it is an area on what depends the development and competitiveness of EU member states in addition to as a whole is focused on structural adaptation process which goal is to gain comparative advantages of EU economy in the world economy environment. The goal of this study is by means of the EU industrial policy analysis to figure out the utilization rate of its current efficiency regarding the creative industry issue, in the way of further possible increasing of the EU industrial policy influence in international economics, as well as their significant role relating to the overall socio-economic development of the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last three enlargements of the EU have brought under scrutiny the current Eastern periphery of the EU: eleven countries with similar contemporary political backgrounds, slightly different rhythms of economic development, but with comparable announced ambitions concerning Europe 2020 targets. These countries have always been considered less dynamic (economically, socially, politically) than the Northern and Western parts of EU. Despite the economic crisis registered within the Community territory at the end of the last decade, the Eastern EU periphery has had, overall, a positive rhythm of growth. With this sustainable current trend, the gaps between EU member states are slowly, but gradually reducing. The main purpose of this paper is to see if there is a connection between the economic growth in Eastern Europe and EU targets regarding investments in the regional development of these countries. A series of indicators have been analysed at different levels (GDP per capita, Employment rate, Atrisk-of-poverty rate, Business demography, etc) in order to highlight the economic sectors where growth has been registered. A qualitative analysis has also been carried out to see what political documents elaborated by the EU regarding investments in regional development for 2014-2020 programming period are targeting specifically the Eastern Europe countries and what sectors represent the main focus of EU policies. By mapping the results, patterns were identified concerning the sectors targeted by EU policies where growth has been registered. Minor, but visible differences were recorded between the dynamics of Eastern Europe countries' economic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to test to what extent an economic growth can be attributed to the international knowledge spillovers. The knowledge spillover is related to the possible output growth gains from the total factor productivity increase in other countries. Analysis of growth accounting was based on the production function of neoclassical growth model. The augmented production function accounted for the labour, physical and human capital, and also captured the other country's total factor productivity growth variable. An empirical investigation was based on the annual data of national accounts of the eighteen European Union countries for the period from 2005 to 2012. The extent, to which variations of productivity can be explained by the production factors of physical and human capital, and the inter-country productivity spillovers, is estimated from the regression analysis. The results reveal, that augmented neo-classical growth model explains considerable part of productivity growth. The regression coefficients of capital - labour ratio and human capital inputs are highly significant. The estimated regression coefficient for the variable of total factor productivity growth in Germany was found significant but low in value. The estimate supports the idea, that economic growth of European Union countries can be attributed to the international knowledge spillover, associated to the productivity increase in German economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU countries are largely heterogeneous group. Heterogeneity is given by historical development, as well as geographic localization, or cultural and social specifics. Main aim of EU is to realize social and environmentally sustainable economic development. One of the tools to achieve that state is effort to increase energy efficiency of economies. In this paper we identify degree of similarity of EU countries in implementing the processes of improving the energy efficiency balance, using the selected indicators of energy efficiency and economic development. Using the historical data we also analyse changes in the development and in the structure of similarity of EU countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]