IPA to create journalists network specialised in European Integration issues

The Independent Press Association (IPA) will create a network composed of 12 journalists that will be specialised in writing articles on European Integration issues. The introductive seminar on European issues is being held on February 1-2, as a result of which the respective journalists will be selected, Info-Prim Neo reports. The network will be created under “The European Reporter” project, while the selected journalists will pay a study trip to Romania in order to learn about Romania’s experience in the European Integration. As IPA reports, most of journalists will represent the local press, as a distinct lack of information in this regard is felt in the regions. At the opening of the seminar, Iulian Groza, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) said that the ministry relies on the cooperation with mass-media not only concerning the fulfilment of Moldova-EU Action Plan but also with a view to spreading the political message of European integration among the simple citizens. He mentioned that MFAEI along with UNDP Moldova and Eurasia Foundation elaborate an information and communication strategy concerning the European integration. The strategy will suggest a series of 20 projects, implemented with the support of mass-media, which aim at training journalists, carrying out opinion polls, consolidating institutional capacity of the Ministries as regards the relations with media, he added. Iulian Fruntasu, director of the European Initiate Programme of Soros-Moldova Foundation stated that it is important that media present to the Moldovan public the costs, benefits, advantages, and the integration’s disadvantages too. Thinking about the EU as “the Promised Land” would be a very approximate and unfair approach. EU must face different processes and would be interesting to discuss them, to examine Moldova’s advantage within the possible accession process, even if the current circumstances are not very beneficial to an immediate accession, he stated. “The European Reporter” Project is carried out with the support of the Soros-Moldova Foundation.