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In February 1992 the Maastricht Treaty laid the groundwork for what would soon become the European Union. From the very beginning, the EU rapidly became one of the largest and most influential intergovernmental unions in the world, and in 2013, twenty years on from its establishment, its 27 member states stretch from Cyprus to Scandinavia. However, in recent years the global economic downturn has left its mark on the European community, and what has become known as the 'Euro Crisis' has left many wondering if the EU has done more harm than good. Diana Rus is a Fogarty Scholar at the Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Iowa, as well as a researcher at the Center for Health Policy and Public Health at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Diana's research focuses on injury and violence prevention, specifically injury surveillance systems and road safety. She's actively involved in several European Commission funded research projects and joint actions in the field of safety, including 'JAMIE: Joint Action to Monitor Injuries in Europe' and 'TACTICS: Tools to Address Childhood Trauma, Injuries and Childhood Safety.'
Diana presents her views on Romania's role in the EU, and if EU membership has helped or hurt Romania. Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, is one of the newest members of the community and its success or failure in wake of the financial crisis will be crucial in determining the future success of the European Union as a whole. More information on the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council can be found here.