That’s a great read, thank you! Do you have any plans to write a post on the ongoing reforms required for EU integration, and how successful or unsuccessful they have been?
Hi Gleb! In a sense, I do that almost every week :) The primary hurdle for Moldova in the EU accession process is related to justice reform. Almost everything else is in the "important but not disqualifying" category. Every ministry has to implement around 3-5 years of normal work each year from here until 2028 in order to align their departments with EU regulation. But delays on particular areas can be negotiated on many issues - justice is the big exception.
If you're interested in any specific area (food safety, transit, customs, taxes, etc) let me know and I'll consider a piece on it in the future. But I try and keep the main areas of reform front and center in the newsletter already.
Also - I think it will be just as interesting to see whether or not the EU itself can implement some reforms in the next few years. I think that is almost as critical to the accession of Moldova and Ukraine as internal reforms are. We shall see...
A new reader here, looking forward to future articles! I’d say I’m interested in reforms in a broader sense, mainly those that would lead, directly or indirectly, to economic growth and a reduction in corruption. What would you say are the main hurdles to justice reform?
What reforms do you think the EU needs to implement? Are they related to bloc expansion, or to the broader changing geopolitical landscape and economic stagnation?
Those are just a few that I think are worth checking out. Generally, you can peruse the Analysis and Perspective sections to find a number of similar articles that hold up well (in my humble opinion).
As to the EU, I would refer to both. Primarily I was thinking of new decision making mechanisms related to expansion. This isn't simply about faster accession, but about mitigating the risk of adding small countries. No one wants another Hungary.
You mention the problems people in Transnistria have getting accurate information.
How watertight is this? With so many people crossing the border daily, a significant number must have access to mainstream media, (or even better, see it with their own eyes).
Do the "authorities" actively jam or block sources from Moldova proper?
I would have thought much could be done to get accurate information across the border...
Thanks Nick! I don't think "watertight" is the right way to think about it. Even in Russia there have been grades of "freedom" across various mediums. For example, broadsheet newspapers are still able to print some criticism of the Kremlin's policy, while TV is not at all.
So the Moldova authorities are very interested in integrating a TV media space to provide alternatives. This is referencing the older population who don't come back and forth for work. That's where there is an iron grip and while I don't know about active jamming (for TV or radio), I have heard about it in the past.
In systems like this, information is available for those who want it - but not for those who might otherwise stumble across it in a liberal democracy (people checking the TV to get the weather forecast, etc). More importantly, commentary, online posts, discussions in a pub - these will all land you in prison. Newsmaker just did a great longread on this that I hope to reference in an upcoming newsletter (probably in the new year)
I think it's also the case in Moldova proper that older people tend to have rose-coloured glasses about the Soviet past, (nobody froze in winter, everyone had something to eat).
Also regarding Russia - I'm active on Russian space forums, and it's always interesting to see who from there shows up on blocked sites, like Facebook!
I might add that even on the Russian sites I use, recently there has been a LOT more of a bleak outlook. Nothing likely to get people in trouble, but some very negative expectations for the future.
And forum admins used to be quick to shut down ANYTHING political.
That’s a great read, thank you! Do you have any plans to write a post on the ongoing reforms required for EU integration, and how successful or unsuccessful they have been?
Hi Gleb! In a sense, I do that almost every week :) The primary hurdle for Moldova in the EU accession process is related to justice reform. Almost everything else is in the "important but not disqualifying" category. Every ministry has to implement around 3-5 years of normal work each year from here until 2028 in order to align their departments with EU regulation. But delays on particular areas can be negotiated on many issues - justice is the big exception.
If you're interested in any specific area (food safety, transit, customs, taxes, etc) let me know and I'll consider a piece on it in the future. But I try and keep the main areas of reform front and center in the newsletter already.
Also - I think it will be just as interesting to see whether or not the EU itself can implement some reforms in the next few years. I think that is almost as critical to the accession of Moldova and Ukraine as internal reforms are. We shall see...
A new reader here, looking forward to future articles! I’d say I’m interested in reforms in a broader sense, mainly those that would lead, directly or indirectly, to economic growth and a reduction in corruption. What would you say are the main hurdles to justice reform?
What reforms do you think the EU needs to implement? Are they related to bloc expansion, or to the broader changing geopolitical landscape and economic stagnation?
Hi Gleb - a big welcome then! Here are a few articles to check out:
Justice reform:
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/perspective-justice-reform-and-paths?utm_source=publication-search
Economic Reform:
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/explainer-understanding-reform
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/explainer-the-role-of-small-business
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/explainer-salaries-taxes-and-migration
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/moldovas-green-turn
Those are just a few that I think are worth checking out. Generally, you can peruse the Analysis and Perspective sections to find a number of similar articles that hold up well (in my humble opinion).
As to the EU, I would refer to both. Primarily I was thinking of new decision making mechanisms related to expansion. This isn't simply about faster accession, but about mitigating the risk of adding small countries. No one wants another Hungary.
Thanks, David!
I find it difficult to feel pessimistic, mainly because of what seem to me to be HUGE strides forwards in Moldova in recent years.
You mention the problems people in Transnistria have getting accurate information.
How watertight is this? With so many people crossing the border daily, a significant number must have access to mainstream media, (or even better, see it with their own eyes).
Do the "authorities" actively jam or block sources from Moldova proper?
I would have thought much could be done to get accurate information across the border...
Great article, as usual.
Thanks Nick! I don't think "watertight" is the right way to think about it. Even in Russia there have been grades of "freedom" across various mediums. For example, broadsheet newspapers are still able to print some criticism of the Kremlin's policy, while TV is not at all.
So the Moldova authorities are very interested in integrating a TV media space to provide alternatives. This is referencing the older population who don't come back and forth for work. That's where there is an iron grip and while I don't know about active jamming (for TV or radio), I have heard about it in the past.
In systems like this, information is available for those who want it - but not for those who might otherwise stumble across it in a liberal democracy (people checking the TV to get the weather forecast, etc). More importantly, commentary, online posts, discussions in a pub - these will all land you in prison. Newsmaker just did a great longread on this that I hope to reference in an upcoming newsletter (probably in the new year)
https://newsmaker.md/ru/longrid-pridnestrovya
Ah, right;.
I think it's also the case in Moldova proper that older people tend to have rose-coloured glasses about the Soviet past, (nobody froze in winter, everyone had something to eat).
Also regarding Russia - I'm active on Russian space forums, and it's always interesting to see who from there shows up on blocked sites, like Facebook!
I might add that even on the Russian sites I use, recently there has been a LOT more of a bleak outlook. Nothing likely to get people in trouble, but some very negative expectations for the future.
And forum admins used to be quick to shut down ANYTHING political.