RJLSS 2025

Human trafficking remains one of the most serious forms of transnational organized crime and a major violation of fundamental human rights. It is closely linked to persistent social, economic, and gender inequalities that may be intensified during periods of structural transition. Romania continues to face significant challenges as both a country of origin and transit for trafficking in human beings, particularly in the context of labor migration, socio-economic vulnerability, and cross-border mobility. This article examines the role of Romanian diplomatic missions and consular offices in combating trafficking in human beings by evaluating the coherence between the international, European Union, and national legal and policy frameworks governing anti-trafficking action and the operational responsibilities assigned to consular authorities. It analyses how this legal and institutional framework supports consular involvement in prevention, victim identification, assistance, referral, and international cooperation, while identifying opportunities to strengthen Romania's consular response to trafficking in human beings. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative research design combining document analysis, doctrinal legal research, and policy coherence assessment. The analysis is based on Romanian legislation, European legal instruments, strategic policy documents, institutional reports, and operational guidance issued by national and international organizations. Spain and Hungary are selected as illustrative case studies on the basis of their relevance to Romanian migration patterns and the distinct institutional contexts in which consular engagement takes place.The findings indicate that Romanian consular authorities have evolved beyond their traditional administrative functions and increasingly operate as frontline actors in victim protection and human security governance. However, the effectiveness of consular intervention depends not only on legal mandates but also on specialized training, interinstitutional cooperation, victim-centered procedures, and access to support services in host states. The article contributes to the emerging literature on consular diplomacy by highlighting the strategic role of diplomatic missions within contemporary antitrafficking frameworks

The current dynamic context, driven by technological advancement, makes entrepreneurship a viable solution for creating one’s own job, and also contributing to the economic development of a country. The objective of this research is to investigate young Europeans’ perceptions regarding the perceived barriers and motivations in the decision-making process of becoming entrepreneurs, and to correlate these factors with entrepreneurial intention. To achieve this aim, Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Binomial Logistic Regression, and Classification Trees were applied. The dataset used for the analysis is based on Eurobarometer 513 – Social Entrepreneurship and Youth. After processing it in R Studio, the final dataset consists of 17 variables reflecting demographic aspects, as well as perceived barriers and motivations in the decision to become an entrepreneur. It includes 5,411 respondents from six European countries, selected to highlight cultural and macroeconomic differences. Multiple Correspondence Analysis led to the identification of respondent profiles, while Binomial Logistic Regression and Classification Trees confirmed the existence of the same factors explaining entrepreneurial intention.

Digitalization has recently reshaped the labour market landscape worldwide, by enhancing the need for digitally skilled workers, by increasing productivity, and by creating new opportunities. In the Digital Agenda context, this paper examines the evolving relationship between digitalization and labour market performance across the European Union, contrasting the pre-pandemic recovery period of 2019 with the more mature period of 2024. Based on a cluster analysis on Eurostat data we investigate patterns and map the EU countries from a labour market and digitalization perspective, using the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), employment rate, e-commerce sales, Gini index, inability to face expenses, labour cost index and GDP per capita. The paper reveals the fact that the COVID-19 pandemics led to a rapid growth and the immediate necessity to implement new digital strategies and work environments, having to rapidly and successfully adjust to the newly-created conditions. The cluster analysis identifies a tripartite hierarchy: (1) Laggard Economies struggling with low digital adoption and high social exclusion; (2) Transitioning Adopters showing moderate technological integration; and (3) Digital Sovereigns characterized by high-maturity digital skills and robust labour market outcomes. The comparison highlights that while the pandemic accelerated digital uptake, it also intensified the "digital divide" between these clusters. As main contribution in the field, the results suggest that EU policy must shift from general digital investment to cluster-specific interventions to ensure social convergence by 2030.

The concept of inequality of opportunity remains a debated and researched topic, occupying a central place in international public policies developed by governments and organisations. The importance of studying this kind of inequality lies in how familial and social backgrounds can impact one’s outcomes throughout life. The present study examines inequalities of opportunity from a microeconomic perspective across 12 Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. The analysis is based on data from the fourth edition of the Life in Transition Survey database, conducted in 2022-2023. The primary results show a rather high employment rate of respondents across the selected countries, but differences in salary outcomes when associated with characteristics such as gender, residence, age, education, and family background. Generally, respondents with higher education and more advantaged family environments are more frequently found in the upper salary quintiles, whereas those with lower educational attainment or fewer books in childhood are more often found in the lower income categories. Romania tends to follow these regional patterns, though with some specific features. These findings may contribute to a better understanding and monitoring of inequalities of opportunity, providing useful insights for policy development.