Abstract:

Entrepreneurial culture suffered at European Union level due to a multitude of factors among which representatives would be the financial crisis and the difficulties that any person who decides to practice independently economic activities has to confront. Although there are several perspectives on entrepreneurial culture, in the approach envisaged in this article we will refer to the mindset of individuals and their skills to develop their own business.
In most EU Member States significant changes occurred at the level of preferences regarding the development of citizens’ economic activities.[1] According to a study conducted in 2012, the number of Europeans that chose as first option to develop a business decreased to 37% of all citizens, whereas in previous years the recorded percentage amounted to 45%. Statistics show that more than 4 million new jobs recorded in European Union are created by SMEs. It also should be noted that at the European Union level, approximately 50% of new businesses emerged on the market, become insolvent during the first 5 years of activity.[2]

The deficiencies registered in the entrepreneurial culture, which are based on educational and political elements, increase the risk that in the following period of time, EU Member States to confront with a slow development of the business environment. In the European Union strategy for the development of entrepreneurship, one of the basic pillars focuses on increasing the quality of entrepreneurship education.[1] Overall, educational programs aim young people without work experience, between the ages of 15 and 24.[3] Furthermore, to increase the quality of entrepreneurship education provided to young people there are also encouraged the initial teacher training programs.

The European Commission intends to implement the policies on entrepreneurship education through national, regional and local development strategies, and the evaluation of the generated impact will be measured by reference to a series of predetermined indicators.[4] Currently, the specific indicators for monitoring entrepreneurship education in the EU are classified in the following sequence: Policy Infrastructure (Inputs), Activity, Outcome and Impacts.[5]
This article will study particularities of European policies on entrepreneurship education. The focus of the article will be on the situation in Romania, therefore studying the case of entrepreneurship among Romanian young people. A quantitative research – questionnaire based will be conducted among students in order to identify their perception of the business environment in Romania, the main risks associated to the projects they intend to implement, along with technical and legal barriers that prevent them from developing a business. Also, a risk analysis, related to the European strategy implementation on entrepreneurship education in Romania, will be conducted.

References:
[1] Ahmad N., Seymour R. G. (2008). Defining Entrepreneurial Activity: Definition Supporting Frameworks for Data Collection. OECD, pp. 7-10;
[2] ***. COM (2012) 795 final. ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2020 ACTION PLAN, pp. 4-6;
[3] ***. OECD, The European Commission (2013). Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Europe, pp. 116-117;
[4] ***. ECOTEC (2010). Towards Greater Cooperation and Coherence in Entrepreneurship Education, pp. 38-41;
[5] Henry N., Chatzichristou S. (2014). Expert Group on Indicators on Entrepreneurial Learning and Competence: Final Report, p. 17;

Keywords:

European policies, entrepreneurial education, risk, young people.