Project title: EU-Moldova Relations - Monitoring the Progress in the Eastern Partnership Context;
Implementation period: December 15, 2011 – February 15, 2012 (sixth year of implementation);
Funded by: Soros Foundation – Moldova, Good Governance Program;
Partner: Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT (Republic of Moldova);
Project goal: Contribute to improve the European integration governmental policies and further consolidate the public debates framework created in result of previous projects implemented jointly by EXPERT-GRUP and ADEPT;
Main activities:
- Systematically monitor and analyze the implementation of the economic commitments of the Republic of Moldova adopted as part of its European integration policy;
- Prepare reports concerning the implementation of the Actions Plan adopted by Moldovan Government for implementation of the EU recommendations for starting the negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and EU;
- Prepare policy studies on the subjects relevant for Moldova's European integration policy;
- Deliver public presentations on the economic aspects related to European integration policy of Moldova;
- Write alternative reports on the Moldova's progress in implementation of its commitments towards the EU;
- Organize public meetings for discussions between public officials and civil society on the European integration policy;
Main outputs and outcomes:
- Euromonitor no.19;
- Euromonitor no.20;
- Euromonitor no.21;
- Euromonitor no.22;
- Alternative report for the European Commission on progress of Moldova in implementing its European integration policy;
- Policy Study “Diagnostic study of Moldovan banking sector in the context of a potential Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and EU”, author Adrian Lupusor and Adrian Babin; the study was presented and discussed with policy stakeholders at the roundtable organized on 26 of September2011;
- Policy Study “Third Energy Package and its Impact on the Energy Sector of the Republic of Moldova”, author Ruslan Surugiu, the study was presented and discussed with policy stakeholders at the roundtable organized on 22 of February 2012;
- Two contributions to the ADEPT's “Governance and Democracy” review;
Project impact:
Thanks to this project, the Moldovan society was able to learn about the alternative assessments of the progress of relations between Moldova and the European Union. Critical opinions formulated in this project served to educate a more informed public opinion about the opportunities and risks, benefits and costs of the negotiations between Moldova and the European Union in areas of trade liberalization, liberalization of the visa regime and other important areas of the EU-Moldova dialogue. Policy studies conducted as part of this project identified or anticipated challenges that relevant national authorities – National Bank of Moldova, Ministry of Economy, Ombudsman - eventually came to confront because of some older structural problems that remained unresolved. The policy studies have pointed to the persistent risks in various areas of policy analyzed and formulated recommendations and feasible policy options. Following this project, the European Commission benefited of alternative sources of information about problems that Republic of Moldova confronts in the implementation of standards and reforms agreed with the EU. The project has identified “underwater stones” that could impede the progress and what policy priorities should be actively supported by the European Union to achieve the goals pertaining to Moldova as a partner-state of the Eastern Partnership.