IPN published on August 14 and Op-ed titled “Chisinau’s bet: Macro-financial assistance and EU recognition”. The political pundit Dionis Cenușa writes in the article that the government party has continued lobbying EU institutions about the mixed voting system even after passing the bill on July 20, 2017.
The Democrats’ goal is bigger than just obtaining some funding they don’t have to pay back. They need to rebuild their damaged internal reputation and EU financing would be seen as legitimizing the government and its decision to change the electoral system. This could trigger a chain reaction of good things for the Democrats. First of all, they’ll restore their image at home, providing new pro-PDM ammunition for its subordinated mass media. Secondly, it will mean a failure of the extra-parliamentary opposition headed by Maia Sandu and Andrei Nastase, who, despite such allies in Brussels as the PPE, cannot mobilize EU institutions against the government lead by the Democrat leader and oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc. Thirdly, it will damage the standing of civil society, which harshly criticized the mixed voting system. Moreover, a big blow to civil society could be the adoption of legislation limiting their foreign funding. Last but not least, offering macro-financial aid to this government will disappoint local pro-Europeans and will strengthen pro-Russian forces.
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The Moldovan law enforcement are joining a Europe-wide awareness raising campaign, called #Say NO, against a widespread, but largely underreported online crime often referred to as sextorsion. The National Police Inspectorate’s Cybercrime Center will be in charge of the campaign in our country.
Sextorsion, also called ‘webcam blackmailing’, is a form of digital blackmail where sexual information or images are used to extort sexual material, sexual favors or money from children. A report released by Europol revealed that victims as young as 7 years old are being targeted online.
Law enforcement from 28 EU member countries, as well as from Norway and Switzerland, have joined the campaign.
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Igor Meriacre, head of the Motivatie Association, says that the government is currently raising a generation dependent on social benefits. He likened it to a company what wants to expand its business, but doesn’t want to invest.
He stressed that investments in accessibility conditions for people with disabilities are low compared to the potential benefits. Thanks to civil society efforts, more and more businesses understand that not creating such conditions has negative economic consequences.
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From this Saturday, August 19, the renovated stadium in Chisinau’s suburban town of Cricova is ready to welcome football players and fans. Cricova Mayor Valentin Gutan told IPN the renovation stared in October 2016 and cost about 7 million lei.
“All conditions have been created to welcome players from Cricova as well as games in national competitions. Even if it’s not a big venue, this is a stadium that meets all European standards”, said Valentin Guţan.
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Moldovan President Igor Dodon today conferred the Order of Honor on the outgoing Head of the EU Delegation Pirkka Tapiola, IPN reports.
The distinction was given “as a token of profound gratitude for the constant support offered to Moldova in implementing reforms, for the continuous effort to promote democratic values and for the intense work done to enhance our country’s reputation internationally”.
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Liberal Democratic Party MP Vadim Pistrinciuc says that the mixed voting system, recently adopted by the Parliament, is a huge mistake for Moldova. He stresses that the bill was passed by the Socialists and Democrats in spite of the recommendations of the Venice Commission and warnings from high-ranking EU officials.
“I think this mixed system is poorly designed and came at the wrong time. Its only goal is to preserve power in the hands of the current government, being tailored to the needs of the Democratic and the Socialist parties. I can’t find any reasons for doubting that the next elections will be held in this format because the government’s direct and indirect “investments” are too high. The damage it suffered for passing this bill is too big to pull back, even though it would be the wise thing to do. It would show that they are not willing to sacrifice their relationship with the European partners for the sake of political tricks. It would show an attempt to mask this initiative as a way to give more rights to the people when, in truth, it’s a way to strengthen the system and the risk of rigged elections is very high”, the MP explained during an interview for Radio Free Europe.
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A business incubator was opened in Cahul on Thursday, August 17, with the support of the European Union. It will host 25 companies, which will create 60 jobs. The incubator will provide logistic support, consultancy, training and financial assistance not only to the hosted businesses, but to other companies from Cahul and Moldova’s southern districts. Moreover, seven virtual residents will also benefit from its services.
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About 21,000 recipients for collecting honey will be distributed to Moldovan beekeepers in order to prevent the contamination of honey and to ensure its quality for local and foreign consumers. According to the South Development Agency, the new vessels will improve sanitary conditions during the collection, transportation and packing of honey.
Yearly, there are about 4,000 tonnes of honey produced in Moldova, including May honey, acacia honey, multifloral honey and linden honey. Moldovan honey exports increased 12 times over the last ten years – from 245 tonnes in 2006 to 3,160 tonnes in 2016. Exports to the EU market are especially promising as the EU’s internal honey production covers only 60% of the demand.
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Moldovan migrants who return home, bring with them a new way of thinking, a new approach and propose concrete projects. Many involve themselves at a local level and the trend is gaining momentum in 2017. Olga Coptu, head of the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, said during an interview for IPN, that there are projects implemented by the diaspora throughout the whole country, especially in villages, because Moldovans are spiritually attached to their places of origin and want to contribute to their development. Most such projects are in the field of tourism, culture and education.
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The Diaspora Days’ open doors day at the government brought together tens of representatives of the Moldovan diaspora and members of the Cabinet of Ministers. The returned migrants could ask their questions and receive answers directly from the officials. The authorities presented the latest mapping of the Moldovan diaspora in six countries and the Diaspora Excellency Groups.
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Challenges in the relationship between the Moldovan diaspora and the diplomatic corps, but also examples of good practices were discussed at the “Diplomacy and Diaspora” workshop, taking place as part of the Diaspora Days in Moldova.
Olga Coptu, head of the Diaspora Bureau, said the 2017 Diaspora Days agenda has been built based on suggestions made by diaspora representatives in the last few months. A subject of particular interest proved to be the relations between diplomatic missions and the diaspora.
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Vladimir Voronin sees Moldova’s future as a European one, where our country is independent and sovereign, and this should not be taken to mean that Moldova is against one country or another. In an interview with IPN, the third President of Moldova and the veteran Communist leader argued that Moldova can follow two paths concomitantly: towards the EU and the Eurasian Union.
“We demonstrated that we can follow both ways, including to our European partners at the highest level. There were official visits and meetings with President Bush, with Angela Merkel and with other leaders, because they too have relations with these countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States. And Vladimir Putin also understood me, as I told him: you too have this special commission Russia-EU. Why can’t we be in the CIS together with you and with the EU at the same time?”, said Vladimir Voronin.
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.
