The Institute for European Politics and Reforms (IPRE) completed the study “Integration of national minorities in the post-Soviet area – Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova” that focused on the most important aspects of the relevant state policies. These were examined through the angle of the national and international legislation, IPN reports.

The study assessed the capacity of competent state institutions and representatives of national minorities in state institutions, the role of political parties in the process of integrating national minorities, utilization of languages, educational, historical and media aspects. The IPRE experts noted that the ignoring of these aspects by the authorities undermines the efforts made by Moldova and Ukraine to become functional inclusive societies and leads to the separation and isolation of the communities of national minorities and to the appearance of prejudice and erroneous perceptions of minorities.

In Moldova’s case, these are important elements of an integration strategy under planning that is to play an important role in facilitating the integration of national minorities by strengthening the feeling of civic affiliation with Moldova.

The study, which includes pertinent recommendations for the state policies on the integration and inclusion of national minorities, was transmitted to the Bureau for Interethnic Relations. For their part, the Ukrainian partners appropriately informed the authorities in Kiev.

The study was carried out within the project “Strengthening the capacities of national minorities and nongovernmental organizations to promote sustainable conflict settlement practices in the Black Sea Region”.