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| Dionis Cenuşa | |
In the course of the last decade, the European integration became a permanent source for false debates or for spreading exaggerated expectations among the people in Moldova. With the advancement of the visa-free regime with the EU, the number of Moldovans visiting Europe increased significantly. However, the impact on the understandings with the EU remains insignificant.
About ‘profiteers”
Some people simplify the EU, imagining it as an endless source of benefits coming gratis from outside. They perceive Brussels as a donor that can ensure cheap or even free assistance in exchange for pro-EU sympathy. Such an approach seriously weakens the notion of ‘conditionality’, which accompanies the EU assistance, but also serves as criticism for those who perceive the ‘conditioning’ as a threat to the national sovereignty. So far, only several voices in Moldova had the courage to remind the people that the EU assistance comes from the taxes paid by the citizens of the 28 EU member states. The idea that the assistance does not come gratis is rather weak. In reality, the benefits that the Moldovans can enjoy derive from the clear commitments that the government must fulfill.
Divided responsibilities
Currently, there is the perception that the EU contributes to the worsening of political governance in the Republic of Moldova. Definitely, the EU misunderstood the signals coming from Chisinau, erroneously interpreting the local policy and easily putting its confidence in political amateurs called pro-European. But this criticism is only partially legitimate. The local mass media, nongovernmental organizations and opposition political parties also share the responsibility. Many of these were closely connected with the ruling political parties and this makes them accomplices. However, almost no harsh criticism was leveled at media outlets and NGOs because they were tolerant towards the so-called pro-EU political parties until 2013-2014. Moreover, a part of the criticism deserves to be aimed at the opposition parties. Being destructive players that do not deserve confidence or profound demagogues, these didn’t manage to mobilize the people earlier, anticipating thus the crises that have devastated Moldovan politics starting with 2012.
How it should be
The truth about the European integration of Moldova is somewhere in the middle. Indeed, the EU interests consist in building safe, stable and prosperous neighborhood, not in destroying or diminishing it. However, to achieve this objective, a bigger ‘round dance’ is needed, which would involve all the relevant players – government, opposition, mass media, civil society and the people. Efficient and sustainable changes cannot result from the pure conditioning instruments held by the EU and other interested sides. Intra- and inter-sector instruments of cooperation, dialogue and monitoring are needed. The full dependence on external ‘conditionality’ should be replaced with a broad civil participation, professional media institutions and constructive political opposition whose goal is to serve the national and public interests. ‘Conditioning’ can play an important role, but should be used in addition to the efforts made by the local players.
What is the price?
Europe is far from being perfect, but it develops and its goal is to become a better place for the European people. Moldova is involved in the process of learning from the European experience and can follow the best practices, using the expertise and financial assistance provided by the EU and its member states. Nowhere in the world is the EU so generous than in its relationship with its Eastern neighborhood, where the partner countries can benefit from significant support with multiple facets. To fully benefit from this support, a reliable government, fully committed civil society and a constructive opposition are needed. This should also include an independent legal system and active citizens who demand fearlessly that their civil and political, social and economic rights should be respected.
It should be clear that the transformation into a European country and society comes with a price. Firstly, the political parties of Moldova should learn to work with the people, not for their own short- or long-term benefit. The main drive of political change derives from the ruling political parties as the only players that get public legitimacy to act in the name of the majority. These should be transparent, democratic and, surely, legitimate. Other necessary ingredients include internal democracy, clean and open public finances, intelligent public policies that the political parties should reflect for being accepted in the political competition.
Secondly, the people must learn to become friendly, meticulous and demanding towards the political parties when voting and between the electoral cycles. The NGOs and media outlets have the moral obligation to contribute to the achievement of this objective.
Thirdly, a solid business community is needed. Being the most dynamic segment of society, the business community has the potential to generate major changes. By improving the behavior and thinking of its members, the business community can cultivate a conscious and rigorous army of staff and people. It is also the case when the enterprises, especially the small ones, play an important role in ensuring democracy and free and open economies. They are actually important actors that contribute to sustainable changes.
It could sound like an idealistic recipe for solving the problems faced by Moldova. In reality, these are inevitable stages through which Moldovan society must go to develop. To ensure the meeting of the best European practices, the ‘method of operation’ of the state institutions, companies, nongovernmental organizations and of the people must be changed.
IPN publishes in the Op-Ed rubric opinion pieces submitted by authors not affiliated with our editorial board. The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily coincide with the opinions of our editorial board.