IPN on September 4 published an OP-ED article entitled “European integration in Moldova: elitist project or not?” that was written by expert in political sciences Dionis Cenusa. The author describes three elements that stimulate the feeling that the European integration is an elitist process. The first aspect resides in the perception of the utility of the European project in relation to social groups in need. The public would like the European assistance to be used to increase salaries and pensions rather than to reform institutions or adjust the legislation. Instead of investments in the public sector or the judicial one, which are considered inefficient and corrupt, the ordinary citizens would like the effects of the European integration to include the rapid improvement of the living conditions. The second aspect resides in the public dissatisfaction with the corrupt local pro-European elites responsible for the effective functioning of the European agenda. The estrangement of the public from the European integration idea was provoked by numerous deviations of the pro-European political elite and by the prolonged tolerance of this and late punishment of it by the EU. The third element derives from the shortcomings in the communication about the EU’s role in Moldova. Even if the information about the impact of the European agenda expands qualitatively and quantitatively, this circulates slower than the image of the failures of the governments associated with the European course, said the politologist.
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The European Union will offer Moldova €6.85 million for implementing seven more Twinning projects that form part of the Moldova – EU Plan of Action as of September. One of the seven projects is aimed at assisting the National Standardization Institute in joining the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization as a fully-fledged member. The other projects will promote the cultural heritage of Moldova by conserving and protecting it, will strengthen the capacities of the National Center for Personal Data Protection, the Parliament’s capacities in the process of adjusting the national legislation to the EU’s, the Customs Service’s capacities to implement the measures defined in the Association Agreement, Moldovan law enforcement agencies’ capacities to investigate acts of corruption. There are two more Twinning projects under formulation that will assist the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure to harmonize the national legislative and operational framework to the EU directives and regulations on maritime transport and inland waterways and to reform the police initial and continuous training center.
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The Parliament’s commission on culture, education, research, youth, sport and mass media decided to recommend the legislative body not to modify Article 75 of the Labor Code, which provides that Europe Day is celebrated on May 9. The decision was taken by six votes in favor and two against. The commission examined two draft laws that were sent back by the President of the Republic of Moldova for reconsideration. It was also decided to recommend Parliament not to modify bill No. 190 to amend and supplement a number of legal acts concerning science management.
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The works to construct a new border crossing point started in Palanca village of Stefan Voda district. The investments were assessed at €5.5 million, €4.5 million of which will be granted by the European Union. It is estimated that the construction of the new facility will be finalized in late 2018. Project manager Andrei Bejenaru said a temporary crossing point will work in the period. This can manage passenger transport units with a capacity of up to 22 persons and freight transport of at most 3.5 tonnes. Other units of transport are redirected to the Tudora customs post. It is expected that the time needed for crossing the point will drop by 20%. If till now about 600,000 persons crossed the border via Palanca, with the new facility the number of visitors would double, reaching 1.2 million annually, according to estimates. The number of vehicles would be of 570,000 yearly, twice more than now. The trucks checking point will process two trucks simultaneously and will be equipped with weighbridge for cargo. This modern equipment will allow doubling the number of processed trucks, from 150 to 300.
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The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg Jean Asselborn will be paying a working visit to Moldova on September 11. The official will have meetings with Prime Minister Pavel Filip and Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu. Jean Asselborn will also meet with his Moldovan counterpart Andrei Galbur. Later the two officials will give a joint news conference. The two ministers will discuss the current state and the prospects of developing the Moldovan-Luxembourgian relations, the evolution of the political dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union and issues related to regional security.
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.
