IPN on July 10 published an OP entitled “Stimulation of reforms in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine: new conditionality vs European perspective”, signed by expert in political sciences Dionis Cenusa. According to the author, real reform stimulation can be ensured not through a clearer European perspective, but by reviewing conditionality and allocating financial assistance in close correlation with the practical progress in doing reforms. Dionis Cenusa noted the reiteration of the European perspective for Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia by the European Parliament could improve the damaged image of the three states so that these could avoid responsibility for the failed reforms. Such a decision could create confusion among the people, who want a more principled and critical attitude from the EU on the governments of the three states. Therefore, the renewal, detailing and individualization of conditionality can more powerfully stimulate reforms.
xxx
Energy efficiency will be included in the agenda of the Eastern Partnership Summit of November 24. This will enable Chisinau to prove its determination to transpose the whole package of EU legislation to the national legislation, Deputy Prime Minister Octavian Calmac, Minister of Economy, said in a news conference given together with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, and Dominique Ristori, the European Commission’s Director General for Energy, after the ninth informal EaP dialogue held in Chisinau on July 10. Commissioner Hahn said energy efficiency is a sector that offers economic growth opportunities, reduces dependence on foreign suppliers and increases security.
xxx
An interview with EU Ambassador in Chisinau Pirkka Tapiola, conducted by political analyst Dionis Cenusa for IPN News Agency, was published on July 11. The diplomat said the first challenge of the biggest three challenges faced during his mandate was to be a diplomat in the Republic of Moldova. The second challenge is the fact that the foreign officials working in Chisinau seem to be involved in political processes. “Where we do get involved is if we see problems in terms of the implementation of our shared values and so on. [...] Even if our relationship is incredibly close, I am not part of Moldova’s domestic political processes. I do not work for the Republic of Moldova, I work for the European Union,” said Pirkka Tapiola. The third challenge has been to try not to work based on stereotypes and very easy narratives, but trying to get to the bottom of events and to understand as objectively as possible, and using as many sources as possible to explain also to Brussels what is really happening in the country. The Head of the EU Delegation ascertained with regret that there were tensions and a bit of polarization inside the Republic of Moldova when he started his mandate. “I see that the political narrative has become increasingly polarized and that I think is the biggest problem,” he said, noting it is about geopolitical, linguistic and identity polarization.
xxx
The Moldovan authorities’ statement about the possibility of submitting an application for EU membership next years is a PR action, said experts invited to a TV program. “A particular procedure should be obeyed before submitting an application. Now we cannot speak at least about normal relations with the EU, not to mention the accession. This is manipulation and an attempt by the government to maintain the authoritarian regime,” said the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova Viorel Cibotaru. Stefan Gligor, programs director at the Center for Structural Politics and Reforms, said the authorities’ intention to submit an application for EU membership next year is absurd. “The Republic of Moldova has the worst government not only in Eastern Europe, but all over the world. In many regards, we are outstripped by African states,” he noted. Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu last week said that Moldova could submit an applicator for obtaining the status of candidate for EU membership in 2018.
xxx
In Moldova, they exaggerate the role of the diaspora in elections and, surely, there are political parties that try to make use of this, considers Ala Mandacanu, spokeswoman for the Diaspora Coordination Council that consists of organizations of Moldovans abroad. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by IPN, Ala Mandacanu says the voter turnout in the parliamentary elections is two times lower than in the presidential elections and no one should expect that the diaspora will decide the fate of elections as this is actually decided here, in Moldova. According to her, the current electoral system, which is built on a vertical pyramid of power, is one of the causes for which the Moldovans lost confidence in Parliament. Ala Mandacanu considers the Republic of Moldova should be divided into nine constituencies on the horizontal that will include Transnistria. One whole constituency should be devoted to the diaspora. She noted that Moldova will either have a European future or will not have this at all as it does not have an alternative. The European road for Moldova is the only appropriate path and what remains outside this is a province that will be another 100 years behind and a territory that no one would want to approach and that would be permanently used against the European Union.
xxx
The current government is corrupt and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are to blame for this because they didn’t vote correctly, Communist leader Vladimir Voronin said in a TV program. ”We have a corrupt, mafiotic and bandit-like government. It is the government of the PDM, which took under control all the state institutions, the police, the justice sector, the prosecution service. It is a government that stole the US$ 1 billion and that bought the 14 traitors from the PCRM for €5 million so as to have a majority of votes in Parliament. The PDM is helped to govern by the PSRM. When the PDM does not manage to do something in Parliament, those from the PSRM raise the hand,” he stated. The chairman of the PCRM leveled accusations against the European leaders, who support the current government of Moldova. “I wrote to European organizations. I sent letters to 29 Heads of State, informing that the Constitution is being violated in the Republic of Moldova, but no answer followed,” he noted.
xxx
The current power does not have the right to do large-scale reforms owing to its insufficient legitimacy. Reforms are needed and are done in accordance with the obligations assumed before the development partners. Contradictory statements on the issue were made in a TV program. Political analyst Victor Ciobanu said the current government does not have the right to implement large-scale reforms owing to its reduced legitimacy. He noted the administrative reform should be done first and the electoral system change and Government reform should be discussed later. The Government reform initiated by the authorities is done in political conjuncture, as the other reforms. Socialist MP Bogdan Tardea in the program said it seems that the Government reform is done in a hurry because it is not yet clear how many ministries and agencies will be and what duties they will have. Democratic MP Eugeniu Nichiforciuc said the Government reform is very important. It was well-thought-out and its implementation was indicated in the roadmap agreed with the partners from the EU.
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.
