IPN on July 24 published an OP-ED entitled “EU’s reaction to introduction of mixed electoral system: pragmatism or weakness” signed by expert in political sciences Dionis Cenusa. According to the author, the adoption of the mixed-member electoral system despite the warnings of the EU about the macro-financial assistance reveal, on the one hand, a successful mixture of strategic planning and enormous resources as well as boldness and cold calculation of the risks inside the Democratic Party. The expert noted the conditionality elements should be resuscitated urgently to strengthen the EU’s authority and not to allow feelings of contempt for the EU to be spread in Moldova and the region, in particular in Georgia and Ukraine.

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La, La Play tour of the Moldova National Youth Orchestra reached Tighina Fortress on July 23. For the first time, classical music, played by artists from both banks of the Nistru River, was performed in the famous fortress built in the XV century, nowadays - a popular touristic attraction. The event was possible thanks to the European Union’s support, as part of the “Support to Confidence Building Measures” Program. Aneil Singh, Head of Cooperation to the EU Delegation in the Republic of Moldova, voiced hope that this concert is a beginning of new partnerships between the both banks of the Nistru River. “I am glad to assure you that the EU is and will be supporting the initiatives bringing the communities closer in the spirit of confidence and cooperation,” stated Aneil Singh.

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Deputy Speaker of Parliament Iurie Leanca requested the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the national ICT regulator ANRCETI to work out a strategy for abolishing roaming  charges for Moldovan citizens who travel in the EU. Iurie Leanca said that during his recent visit to Moldova, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said the roaming charges between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries should be harmonized. “In this connection, I ask for information about the plan of action at legislative level and the regulations of the ANRCETI and ICT Ministry and about the steps that will be taken to adjust our telecommunications market to the EU market so as to hasten the process of scrapping roaming charges for Moldovan citizens who travel in the EU,” says the Deputy Speaker’s request.

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Moldova’s President Igor Dodon plays the role of a counterbalance to the pro-European course. Furthermore, Igor Dodon is not in a war with the Transnistrian region, unlike the parliamentary alliance that signed a statement on the pullout of the Russian troops from the left side of the Nistru. The subject was developed in a TV program. Referring to the announcement that President Dodon will take part in the events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the constitution of the peacekeeping mission in the Transnistrian region and will award Russian soldiers on this occasion, political analyst Cornel Ciurea said Igor Dodon perceives the presidency as a mission of counterbalance to the pro-Russian course represented by the Democratic Party and he thus has a pro-Russia position.

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The European People’s Party (EPP) President, Joseph Daul, together with the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Hans van Baalen, made a joint statement with regards to the situation in the Republic of Moldova on July 26, IPN reports. The statement says that “it is with increasing concern that the ALDE Party and the European People’s Party (EPP) continue to observe the deterioration of the rule of law and democratic standards in the Republic of Moldova. Instead of seeking to advance the country and its people along the road to prosperity, the Democratic Party (PDM), together with the Socialists (PSRM), spearheaded by their leader Plahotniuc, have chosen to strengthen autocracy.”

“In recent months, the PDM-PSRM alliance has intensified its intimidation and harassment towards its pro-European political opponents after PDM-PSRM willfully discarded the recommendations of the Venice Commission and changed the electoral system. The EPP and ALDE strongly denounce the use of selective justice to silence the opposition, as in the case of Dorin Chirtoacă, the Mayor of Chisinau and First Deputy Chairman of ALDE member party Partidul Liberal (PL),” reads the statement. “Thus, the EPP and ALDE call on the EU institutions, including the European External Action Service, as well as on the Council of Europe, to immediately evaluate the decline of the rule of law and democratic standards in the Republic of Moldova, to stop any EU funding, to apply the strictest conditionality to any future financial assistance and to re-evaluate as soon as possible the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

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A consignment of military uniforms and accessories without documents of origin was seized at the Moldovan-Romanian borer. The military equipment was to reach subversive elements whose area of operations includes the European area, especially the Balkan region. The operation was performed by the Customs Service together with the Security and Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases at the Leuseni customs posts, at the exit from Moldova. The goods were found in a bus transporting parcels to Europe. Besides military uniforms, the batch included helmets, tactical vests, watches, lanterns and food products in military packing with labels in Russian. The persons who accompanied the parcels could not explain the origin of the equipment and its purpose. According to the Customs Service, preliminary investigations showed the military uniforms and accessories were made in Russia and were brought from Transnistria. These were to reach Bratislava in the Slovak Republic. The military equipment could have been sold from the weapon stores of the former 14th army.

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The Republic of Moldova risks being internationally isolated owing to the policy pursued by the government, director of the National Intelligence College of Romania Iulian Fota said in a televised talk show. “The Republic of Moldova reached the point when it could be isolated internationally. I see disappointment in those from the West. The officials there wonder why things do not change after so many years of support and Moldova is not modernized and becomes poorer. I think it is due to the lack of lobe for the people, compassion for the mates as those who are in power care only about their wealth,” stated Fota. According to him, the Republic of Moldova detached itself from the triangle that it formed together with Georgia and Ukraine, which advanced much more on the path of European integration, despite the fact that they were marked by war. “Georgia identified its path long ago and Ukraine followed it. Moldova detached itself from Georgia and Ukraine,” said Fota.

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Sixteen entrepreneurs from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district received grants from the European Union for a value of up to €17,900 each. The support will enable to start new businesses and develop small and medium-sized enterprises, resulting in the creation of over 90 new jobs. The entrepreneurs were selected out of 87 participants in the second round of the business projects’ contest organized by the “Support for Agriculture and Rural Development in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia District” (SARD) Program, financed by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP.

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If the European Union decides to stop the funding for the Republic of Moldova, early parliamentary elections could be held and those who look at the Republic of Moldova from geopolitical point could become wiser, President Igor Dodon said in a meeting with the press at the State Residence in Condrita on July 26. Igor Dodon admitted that the foreign partners financed the Republic of Moldova a lot during the last few years, but it’s not known what the government does with these billions of euros. He noted that the possible halt in EU funding will be a headache for the Government and the parliamentary alliance. According to him, the financing should be reviewed, especially the economic part.

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The Border Police announced that traffic restrictions will be imposed at the border crossing point “Palanca” as of July 31 for units of transport with the capacity of over 1.5 tonnes and for passenger vehicles with the capacity of over 22 seats in connection with reconstruction works at the checkpoint. In the period, these types of transport will be diverted to the customs post “Tudora”. The frontier post “Palanca” will remain functional for vehicles with a transportation capacity under 3.5 tonnes and for minibuses with at most 22 seats. A temporary customs post will be set up for the purpose. The frontier post “Palanca” is extended and modernized within the project “Construction of the jointly operated border crossing point Palanca on the territory of the Republic of Moldova” that is financed by the EU, co-financed by the Government of Moldova and implemented by UNDP in Moldova. The authorities said the joint border control through this point will help ease traffic and will ensure greater transparency in the checking process through the one-stop shop.

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By the buffoonery-like conduct of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian Federation wants to test the limits of the dialogue partner Moldova in a particular problem, said experts invited to a televised talk show. Media analyst Cristian Tabara said there is a decision by the Council of the EU to impose sanctions on a number of Russian political and business figures and companies following the annexation of Crimea. The list includes Dmitry Rogozin. According to him, Rogozin knew this very well and yet tried to reach Chisinau by an ordinary flight with passengers on board, anticipating the consequences. Expert Veaceslav Ionita said Dmitry Rogozin represents himself for the simple reason that the Russian Federation allowed him to do this. The Republic of Moldova, if it claims to be a European state, should adopt a European attitude and should not be like Rogozin and answer in his style. Also, Moldova should have some clear protection mechanisms.

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The author of the analysis “Mixed system: Angle or Demon that descended on Moldova?”, which was published on July 28, 2017, noted the almost perfect form and the unprecedented determination in the practice of political struggles by which the electoral system was changed. He considers at this stage it could be useful to examine more attentively not what was done, but rather how this work was done by the promoters, especially the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM). What organized force comes or already came to Moldova and how will it be used and by who and in whose interests? Did an Angel or a Demon descend on us?” wondered the author. According to him, many of the things said about the PDM could also be attributed to the claimant to power PSRM, which is as determined in projects and actions, but which plays as riskily, on the verge. ”How would an eventual PDM-PSRM “Molotov cocktail” influence our life after 2018?” is another question to which Moldovan society will have to find an answer.


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.