The people do not know elementary things and truths about the European integration. The population is indoctrinated and ‘fed’ on incorrect information and this leads to opposition to the rapprochement with the EU. Statistics show that 70% of the Moldovans were for the European integration in 2008, while now this figure fell to 45%. Such conclusions were formulated by experts of the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, which conducted the information campaign “Moldova, Europe”, IPN reports.
“Viitorul” project coordinator Ghenadie Mocanu told a news conference that caricatures showing the realities in Moldova, compared with the situation in the European Union, were exhibited on the street in 12 settlements of the country. The people were informed about the living standards, pensions and salaries, agricultural subsidies, the ecological state and the practicing of sport in the EU member states.
Corneliu Ciurea, expert of “Viitorul, said the idea was to present the European integration process to the people in an accessible way. The Institute’s experts were accompanied by European diplomats who answered the questions put by interested people. There were no hostile reactions, but the lack of information of the population was evident. More such campaigns should be carried out, including by the central authorities.
Executive director of “Contact” Center Sergiu Neicovcen said the institution he heads became involved in the informing of the population and met with hostile reactions, mainly in southern Moldova, where the people even refused to take the brochures distributed by volunteers. In the local mass media in Gagauzia, there is no information about the European integration process or the information is presented incorrectly. That’s why campaigns to inform the people should be carried out permanently.
Leonid Litra, expert of the Kiev-based Institute of World Policy, took part in the campaign conducted by “Viitorul”. He said he often had to refute the assertions that there will be no crosses in cemeteries after the country integrates into the EU and that the people out of work will receive by €800,000 from the state. “This campaign helped the people to draw some conclusions as it centered not only on the benefits of coming closer to the EU, but also on the difficulties that the country is facing in the European integrating process,” said the expert, adding that the informing of the population is overdue, but the people should be anyway informed about this process.
The campaign “Moldova, Europe” is apolitical and supports no party or political person. It was organized by “Viitorul” in partnership with the Institute of World Policy with financial support from the Open Society Foundations.
