BOOK REVIEW: Vasile Pușcaș, ‟România și calea de viață europeană” [Romania and the European way of life], Cluj-Napoca, Școala Ardeleană Publishing House, 2017, 252 pp.

Abstract

The volume Romania and the European way of life (2017), by professor Vasile Pușcaș, presents-without pretending to be exhaustive on the topic-a comprehensive analysis of the local, national, regional and global context of Romania's accession to the European Union, an analysis of the-both technical and political- process of accession negotiations, as well as of the post-accession European evolution of the country, at exactly one decade of membership. The book appeared at Școala Ardeleană publishing house (Cluj-Napoca) and it encompasses the vast experience of Romania's chief negotiator with the European Union, unveiling in its two sections (Articles and Interviews) the advantages, the benefits for us, the Romanians, following the accession (although mainly by the contagion effect of the single market), our attitude as country when relating to the supranational level of decision making, the less inspired interpretation of the true meaning of EU membership (a partnership and not only a mere alliance or practice of foreign policy), and of the role that we must assume, as well as recommendations on the lessons Romania should internalize, in order to shape a distinct type of involvement, a distinct, proactive cooperation, at the European Union level and not exclusively.