The progress made by Moldova during eight years in the European integration process was moderate, being measured by experts with three points of five. The most important developments were made in such areas as right to establish societies, statistics and macroeconomic and macrofinancing policy. Moldova continues yet to have shortcomings in solving the Transnistrian dispute, in ensuring democracy and the rule of law, and in the transport sector.
Adrian Lupusor, economic expert of the Independent Analytical Center Expert Grup, told a news conference that the results achieved by Moldova in the area of small and medium-sized companies are due to the reduction in the number of procedures needed to found societies, diminution of the necessary time and costs incurred for obtaining the necessary documents, IPN reports.
According to the expert, the statistics area has been continuously modernized by the development strategy for 2008-2011 that was followed by the strategic development program for 2012-2014. As regards the macroeconomic and microfinancing policy, Adrian Lupusor said the main accomplishments are related to the improvement of the budgetary processes and planning of public spending.
Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, said the progress made in some of the areas were shadowed by drawbacks and even reversion in the analyzed period. “The slightest progress was made in settling the Transnistrian conflict. The negotiation process didn’t bring the expected results because the Transnistrian authorities were non-cooperative,” he stated, adding that the conflicts inside the ruling coalition also affected Moldova’s attractiveness for the Transnistrians and fueled separatist trends in the region.
According to Igor Botan, modest progress was made in the area of democracy and the supremacy of law, mainly due to the major shortcomings in the administrative reform and strengthening of local self-management in accordance with the European standards. “Despite positive developments over the last few years, three are major shortcomings in the transport sector as regards transparency in holding tender contests for repairing roads. There is no efficient technical audit system and the quality of the performed works leaves much to be desired,” said the expert.
The monitoring report was produced by Expert-Grup and ADEPT with financial support from Soros Foundation Moldova through the Good Governance Program.