Civil society can and should be an important voice in the promotion of the European values in the Republic of Moldova and at international level, Sergiu Iurcu, head of the Socioeconomic Protection Department of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN.

Referring to the EPC Summit that will take place in Moldova on June 1, Sergiu Iurcu said that civil society will be able to support the authorities in their efforts to join the EU so that the European leaders no longer doubt the intention and the efforts made by our country in this regard.

“The opinion that the EU leaders will form about the Republic of Moldova is an important element. Civil society will have a solid voice. I think the summit will not have an immediate impact, but civil society should clearer explain the advantages of this event and of the European integration to which the Republic of Moldova tends,” stated Sergiu Iurcu.

As regards the relations and cooperation between the authorities and civil society in the period before the summit, Iurcu said the Government should support civil society. There are platforms for interaction between the Government, Parliament and civil society. There are many cases when the authorities have a negligent attitude to civil society. But solutions to some of the problems addressed during many years are identified. There are mechanisms, but civil society should be active and prevent particular events.

As to ordinary citizens’ expectations of the summit, Sergiu Iurcu said the people want immediate advantages. “Particular economic measures are also possible. The investors’ interest in the Republic of Moldova can increase and we could develop the country’s economy. The citizens want to live better, to have access to goods of a high-quality, to have jobs and higher incomes,” he noted.

The head of the Socioeconomic Protection Department of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova also said that the values and living standards existing in the EU should be transposed to Moldova, which wants to be part of the European family. “We must take into account what the EU promotes, the quality of life, the level of pays, the values existing in the EU, which should be transposed to the Republic of Moldova too,” he stated.

The public debate entitled “European Political Community Summit, responsibilities and opportunities for civil society” was the second installment of IPN’s project “Support for European Integration by stimulating discussion in the mass media about the European Political Community (EPC) Summit” that is supported by Soros Foundation Moldova.