The Republic of Moldova’s entry into the European Union is a process of transforming the country, of improving the living conditions and the functionality of institutions in the country. The young people play an important role in the process of persuading the EU member states that Moldova deserves to obtain the candidate country status. In this regard, many organizations and youth initiatives are anchored in different programs, projects and networks in the EU, such as youth and academic exchanges, the volunteering program at European organizations, internships at state institutions and grans in different areas. To benefit from these opportunities, the adolescents are urged to monitor the website EUNEIGHBOURS east, IPN reports.
In public debates titled “Voice of the youth in the Republic of Moldova in the context of obtaining of candidate country status”, MP Adrian Băluțel, secretary of the Parliament’s National European Integration Commission, said the young people are the main argument of Moldova’s European integration efforts.
“The European integration process implies primarily the transposing of the European development model. This model ensures better living conditions, other standards for the functioning of state institutions and for the interaction between the state and the citizens. The European integration is a goal that resonates a lot with the young people of Moldova as these want to anchor into the European development model by projects, initiatives and activities,” stated the MP.
In this connection, Adrian Băluțel reminded that 2022 is the European Year of Youth that is also marked in Moldova, which encourages the pro-active participation of the young people in all the social, economic and administrative activities. “The Government is preparing an exhaustive package of support for the youth. This includes extended measures to offer cultural vouchers to the young people. We also aim to extend the internship program and opportunities at public institutions in the EU,” noted the MP.
Anastasia Eșanu, a participant in the event to launch the European Year of Youth in Moldova, communication coordinator of the Young European Ambassadors, mentioned a number of opportunities for the young people in Moldova offered by the EU, such Erasmus + , the European Solidarity Corps and internship under the guidance of the EU High-Level Advisers. The young people can also benefit from grants in the areas of entrepreneurship, democracy and human rights.
The chairman of the National Youth Council of Moldova Nicolai Cheleș said the state institutions should encourage more the young people’s and youth organizations’ participation in international events. The state institutions at the moment are not ready to cover the Council’s dues to the European Forum of €800. The young people should promote the idea of inclusion of interethnic groups and the human rights principles.
“The dedication of the citizens of Moldova, including of the young people, by participation in measures to support the Ukrainian refugees and by offering community assistance, showed that our citizens in Moldova and outside its borders manage to show that they are Europeans,” said Emil Burinschi, who studies for his master’s degree at the Central European University in Vienna.
The event was organized as part of the project “EU DEBATES CAFÉ: Advancing Knowledge and Expertise on EU Institutions and Policies in Moldova” that is implemented by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) in cooperation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation in the Republic of Moldova with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office.
