IPN on January 22 published an OP-ED article entitled “Moldova’s struggle against Russian misinformation: shortcomings and electoral calculation”, written by political pundit Dionis Cenusa. According to the author, the struggle against Russian misinformation or any other external information interference that can negatively affect the democratic processes in the country should be based on strict rules and criteria. Or the media cleaning process can also eliminate the useful content and can distort the access to information of public importance. The mechanism proposed for restricting the propagandistic information content is imperfect. There are clear signs that this satisfies temporary electoral needs rather than introduces durable and efficient solutions for complex problems related to the integrity of the information consumed by society. The eradication of “fake news” implies greater involvement on the part of the state, the mass media and even the people. Read more ...

xxx

The relations between Moldova and Russia regarded through the angle of the strategic partnership continue to be tense. Despite the attempts to bring positions on a wide range of subjects nearer, a compromise could not be reached. At the same time, the economic and diplomatic instruments used as counteraction policies have a destructive influence and generate increased tensions inside the political dialogue between the two states. The conclusions were presented in a press club meeting staged by the Foreign Policy Association (APE) at IPN. APE programs director Natalia Stercul said the tendencies in the Moldovan-Russian dialogue worsened in 2014, when Moldova’s Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union. In the process, the Republic of Moldova was guided by the external pragmatism that was based inclusively on the attempt to weaken the Russian influence. Read more ...

xxx

If the extent of the financial damage caused to the Republic of Moldova by the presence of the Russian troops on the left side of the Nistru is gauged, this would be an advantage in the Moldovan-Russian dialogue. At the same time, it is rather improbable that Moldova will get money from the Russian Federation for this. Editorialist Nicolae Negru said this idea, leaving aside the conjuncture and interests, forms part of another tendency of the current government – to head for the European Union, Romania – and this tendency is dictated by Moldova’s interests. Moldova should apply another tactic in the relations with the Russian Federation, namely that Russia occupies a part of Moldova’s territory and causes particular damage. This way the approach to the Transnistrian conflict will change and Russia could no longer be regarded as a guarantor of peace on the Nistru. Read more ...

xxx

SA “Apa-Canal Chisinau” (ACC) has signed one more un contract to rehabilitate about 55 km of water pipes under the 1b Package of the program to develop water supply and sewerage services in the municipality of Chisinau. The program to the value of about €61.8 million is financed with money from the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the EU Neighborhood Investment Facility. According to ACC, the contract was signed on January 22 with the French company SADE-Compagnie Generale de Travaux d’Hydraulique, which won the international tender contest. Read more ...

xxx

The initiative to contract an internal law firm to gauge the extent of the damage caused by the Russian army’s stay on Moldova’s territory, proposed by Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, is electoral rhetoric, but this also has a practical component, said experts invited to a TV program. Political analyst Oazu Nantoi called the initiative electoral pornography. Political analyst Anatol Taranu considers this initiative has an electoral component and also a very important practical component. According to political commentator Corneliu Ciurea, this is an approach to synchronize the Republic of Moldova with what Ukraine does. “Ukraine assessed the damage and has where to sue Russia, while the Republic of Moldova subscribes to this approach given that our government is pro-European and does not accept Russia’s supremacy,” stated the analyst. Read more ...

xxx

The reform of the public procurement system is needed in order to adjust the national system to the international standards and the Community acquis, under the commitments assumed by ratifying the Association Agreement with the EU. For the public procurement system to be efficient, an appropriate legal framework, corruption prevention institutions and a functional and effective appeal system are needed, in the interests of all the players, director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” Igor Munteanu stated in an event held to present the results of the monitoring of the decisions of the National Contestation Agency. Read more ...

xxx

In a referendum where voters would choose between Moldova’s entry into the European Union and the entry into the Eurasian Union, 37.6% would vote for the first, while 42.5% for the second. According to the sociological poll “Vox Populi – January 2018”, which was presented by the Association of Sociologists and Demographers on January 24, 7.1% of the respondents have no option, 4.3% would not take part in the referendum, while 8.5% didn’t want to answer or didn’t know what to answer. Compared with the situation of 2017, the number of those who would choose to join the EU rose by 1.5 percentage points. The number of those who are oriented to the EU rose by less than 0.3 percentage points. Read more ...

xxx

Moldova’s request to review the export quotas up was received and is being examined. A response will be transmitted to the Moldovan authorities in the immediate period, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom stated in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Iurie Leanca, who was in Brussels on a visit. According to the Government’s press service, Iurie Leanca and Cecilia Malmstrom agreed the priorities for the immediate period. Among these is the obtaining of an authorization for exporting Moldovan products of animal origin to the European market. The sides highlighted the importance of observing the intellectual property rights and of increasing the number of national companies with export potential to the EU. Read more ...

xxx

The Cabinet approved the list of waste following the transposition of the EU regulations on environment and waste management to the national legislation. By the Association Agreement with the EU, Moldova pledged to ensure strict monitoring and correct reporting of data concerning generated waste. Also, Moldova is a party to the Basel Convention and is obliged to monitor and report on the exported waste. Read more ...

xxx

The executive approved the public internal financial control development program for 2018-2020 and the plan of action for implementing this. The documents will enable to manage public finances based on the principles of good governance. By implementing these documents, the Government aims to improve public administration, diminish bureaucracy, minimize corruption risks and provide high-quality services for the people and the business community. A Twinning project financed by the European Union and the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands will provide assistance in implementing this program. Read more ...

xxx

The national gas transportation and distribution company “Transgaz” of Romania expressed interest in purchasing the Moldovan company “Vestmoldtransgaz” that was founded to build the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline, Romania’s Ambassador to Moldova Daniel Ionita stated in a TV program. According to the ambassador, the Romanian company submitted a bid to this effect and was the only bidder in this project. There is major interest on both sides of the Prut in having this gas pipeline built by this yearend. “It is a strategic project that will contribute to ensuring the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. From this perspective the project is necessarily supported by Romania. This project also contributes to the physical connection of the Republic of Moldova to the European area and, implicitly, to Romania,” stated Daniel Ionita. Read more ...

xxx

The European Union donated a set of almost 150 units of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear decontamination equipment to the General Inspectorates for Emergencies. The equipment includes chemical protective suits, masks, dosimeters, portable radiation detectors, sampling gear, danger area marking kits and immunologic tests. Read more ...

xxx

The resumption of discussions on the submission of the application for membership in the European Union will depend on the results of the 2018 parliamentary elections, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Iurie Leanca stated in a news conference on January 26. He noted that only by having a pro-European majority and a government powerfully committed not only to the democratic, but also to the pro-EU values, will Moldova be able to ask for the status of candidate for EU membership. According to Iurie Leanca, the crisis experienced by the country in 2015 left a powerful imprint on the perception of Moldova in Brussels. Read more ...

xxx

Chisinau hosted the EUBAM’s 29th Advisory Board Meeting. The meeting welcomed the three-year extension of EUBAM’s mandate from December 1, 2017 until November 30, 2020. It also approved the Mission’s activity report for May-November 2017. Chairman of the Advisory Board, European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Peter Michalko stated that the next few years, EUBAM will focus further on delivering technical support to the Transnistrian settlement process. “Furthermore, its focus on combatting cross-border crime will continue under the new mandate as well as its assistance to the competent Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities to fully implement systems related to Integrated Border Management. They will further enable private and business travellers to smoothly travel between both countries,” he said. Read more ...

xxx

The co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for Moldova Egidijus Vareikis said politics is sometimes not very cheap, while the cost of the non-recognition of the Transnistrian region represents 5% of the GDP. It would be better for this part of Moldova not to waste this money. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the official said he admits that a solution for Transnistria can be found not in a year, but in a week, but Moscow’s benevolence is needed for the purpose. Egidijus Vareikis said it is a peaceful, but not legal conflict. It is about a region that is not recognized by the international community. The Transnistrians are aware of this and try to invent a new history. Read more ...

The summary of news from the IPN series “European Integration” is produced with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany and can be further disseminated on condition that the source is indicated.