The results of the referendum on amending the Constitution to enable Moldova's accession to the European Union revealed that many people's perceptions of the EU differ significantly from objective reality. Specifically, this concerns how EU institutions operate, their roles, the limits of the competencies of European executive and collegial bodies, and the boundaries between the EU’s collective goals and the authority of national governments. These topics were not thoroughly discussed either before or during the information campaign for the referendum. “When a person is afraid of something, when they don’t understand and don’t receive answers to what matters to them, it’s natural for them to hesitate to give an answer,” explained expert Alexandr Makuhin during the public debate, “What Do Moldovans Know About the EU? The Gap Between Expectations and Reality?” organized by IPN News Agency.
Makuhin, a resident expert of the project, highlighted that people's concerns and fears significantly influenced the referendum results. Prior to the referendum, various political distortions were employed. In his opinion, many stereotypes and visible manipulation techniques actively impact Moldova. The stagnation in living standards has led to a situation where manipulation techniques are readily absorbed by people who fear worsening conditions, Makuhin explained.
One economically driven fear is the claim that the EU will require Moldova to adopt legislation allowing the sale of agricultural land to foreign citizens. Makuhin clarified that the EU cannot impose such demands on a country. However, this was portrayed as a forced land grab to be handed over to “wealthy capitalists,” significantly affecting public sentiment.
Another economic manipulation involves the adoption of the euro as the national currency, with claims that this would lead to increased expenses. Some people fail to understand that EU integration and adopting the euro are complex processes that are not necessarily interconnected.
A further widely spread falsehood is that joining the EU would mean accepting same-sex marriages and legitimizing the adoption of children by same-sex couples. Makuhin stated that he disapproves of any gender-based discrimination, emphasizing that not all EU countries have such laws. “Political and institutional accession to the EU is not tied to amending the Family Code,” the expert said.
The public debate, “What do Moldovans know about the EU? The Gap Between Expectations and Reality?” was organized as part of the project IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and Pro-European Moldova, funded by IMS.