{"id":19374,"date":"2024-10-16T09:51:55","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T09:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/?p=19374"},"modified":"2024-10-16T09:51:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T09:51:55","slug":"how-could-eu-membership-transform-moldova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/?p=19374","title":{"rendered":"How could EU membership transform Moldova?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Moldova this week votes in a key referendum on future EU membership that will decide the country&#8217;s future. But what advantages would an EU perspective bring the country?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova, nestled between the European Union and Ukraine, faces a series of challenges. From the economy to slow judicial reforms and rapid depopulation, the country has been facing challenges it cannot tackle alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there\u2019s no silver bullet to overcoming these obstacles, a pro-EU vote at an upcoming referendum\u2014set to held on October 20, concurrently with the first round of country\u2019s presidential election\u2014would certainly put the country on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/emerging-europe.com\/analysis\/now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-moldova\/\">\u2018Now is the time to invest in Moldova\u2019<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/emerging-europe.com\/opinion\/what-would-a-failed-eu-referendum-mean-for-moldova\/\">What would a failed EU referendum mean for Moldova?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/emerging-europe.com\/analysis\/moldovas-ambitious-targets-for-green-energy\/\">Moldova&#8217;s ambitious targets for green energy<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldovans are being asked a simple question: Do you support amending the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union? Incumbent president, Maia Sandu, is campaigning for a yes vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opinion polls suggest that Moldovans will indeed vote for an EU future, and for Sandu herself to serve a second term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The economy<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova remains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/country\/moldova\">Europe\u2019s poorest country<\/a> with a GDP per capita of around 7,000 euros, about a third of that of its neighbor Romania, an EU member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, the potential for economic progress that comes with European Union membership is undeniable. Since joining the EU in 2007 Romania\u2019s purchasing power grew from 43 per cent to <a href=\"https:\/\/economy-finance.ec.europa.eu\/document\/download\/dcac26a0-120e-4233-88b6-8c7b0d919257_en?filename=SWD_2024_623_1_EN_Romania.pdf\">78 per cent of the EU average<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova\u2019s economy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fao.org\/family-farming\/countries\/mda\/en\/\">depends heavily on agriculture<\/a>. The sector employs more than a quarter of the&nbsp; workforce and generates 12 per cent of the country\u2019s GDP. As Moldova would need to invest heavily in the sector to bring it on part with European standards, funds will be made available through EU&#8217;s common agricultural policy once Moldova becomes a member state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, as highlighted recently by Moldova\u2019s Economy Minister, EU candidate status would signal to investors that Moldova is a viable business partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EU is Moldova&#8217;s biggest trade partner, accounting for 53.7 per cent of its total trade in 2023. For an export driven economy like Moldova\u2019s accessing EU markets quickly and cheaply is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Infrastructure&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova has the <a href=\"https:\/\/viborc.com\/road-quality-in-europe-the-best-and-worst-roads-in-europe\/\">worst roads in Europe<\/a>. This leads to road fatalities and economic losses due to bad infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Potential EU membership would mean that the country can access more funds to improve its infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Better infrastructure helps connect supply chains and efficiently move goods and services across borders. It also improves the quality of life as infrastructure creating opportunities for employment and improving access to healthcare and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Demographics<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Research by <a href=\"http:\/\/viitorul.org\/ro\/content\/republica-moldova-se-depopuleaz%C4%83-destul-de-activ-de-la-ob%C5%A3inerea-independen%C8%9Bei-popula%C8%9Bia\">The Institute for Development and Social Initiative (IDIS) Viitorul<\/a> based in Chi\u0219in\u0103u has revealed that astonishingly, the Republic of Moldova is returning to population levels not seen since 1950\u2014its population has decreased by 1.5 million people over the past 30 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most recent census, dating back from 2014 ,puts the country\u2019s population at 2.8 million, down from 4.3 million recorded by the 1989 census.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova has been losing its population rapidly, faster than that any other country occupied by the Soviet Union. Almost a third of its population has left over the past three decades in search of better job prospects abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the sluggish economy and job market have proven to be the main culprits in determining Moldovans to move abroad, creating better economic conditions at home through EU investment could help stop or even reverse the trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stronger institutions<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Moldova\u2019s president has pledged zero tolerance towards corruption, and receiving support from Brussels is essential in achieving this goal. As an EU member Moldova will benefit from mechanisms to help safeguard rule of law making sure the country\u2019s institutions remain robust and uphold democratic standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EU membership would also provide Moldova with more options to fight off any external interference. Recently, Moldova\u2019s Chief of Police Viorel Cern\u0103u\u021beanu said that there\u2019s significant proof Russia is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/pro-russia-oligarch-network-influence-eu-moldova-elections-voter-bribery-disinformation\/\">using bribes, hybrid warfare and disinformation, the likes of which Moldova<\/a> has never seen before in its push to sway public opinion during the upcoming referendum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said that&nbsp; Russia is now trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rferl.org\/a\/disinformation-moldova-vote-russia-disinformation-eu-parliament\/33150881.html\">falsely portraying a lack of popular support<\/a> for European integration. The European Parliament has also strongly condemned Russia\u2019s interference in the upcoming referendum and has taken steps to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/news\/en\/press-room\/20241003IPR24421\/parliament-condemns-russia-s-interference-in-moldova\">fight disinformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A member of the European Parliament for the European People&#8217;s Party, Rare\u015f Bogdan, introduced an amendment that secured 45 million euros in funds earmarked to help counteract the spread of fake news in Moldova. Moldova has also set up a centre aimed at <a href=\"https:\/\/csometer.info\/updates\/moldova-establish-new-state-body-combat-disinformation\">combating discrimination<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EU membership is Moldova\u2019s ticket to growth. This journey will be as challenging as it is necessary. However, without popular support and substantial turnout at the referendum (turnout must reach 30 per cent in order to be valid), this journey might come to an abrupt halt\u2014with devastating effects for the future of the Republic of Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Unlike many news and information platforms,&nbsp;<em>Emerging Europe<\/em>&nbsp;is free to read, and always will be.&nbsp;There is no paywall here.&nbsp;We are independent,&nbsp;not affiliated with nor representing any political party or business&nbsp;organisation.&nbsp;We want the very best for emerging Europe, nothing more, nothing less. Your support will help us continue to spread the word about this amazing region.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can contribute&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/emergingeurope.krtra.com\/t\/NlQnFuOA2C9c\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>. Thank you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emergingeurope.krtra.com\/t\/NlQnFuOA2C9c\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/emerging-europe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/copy-of-add-a-heading.png\" alt=\"emerging europe support independent journalism\" class=\"wp-image-50811\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color is-style-wide\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moldova this week votes in a key referendum on future EU membership that will decide the country&#8217;s future. But what advantages would an EU perspective bring<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[21,6633,7467,6604,348,7887,6609,237],"class_list":["post-19374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-economy-politics","tag-european-union","tag-investment-in-moldova","tag-maia-sandu","tag-moldova","tag-moldova-eu-referendum-2024","tag-moldova-presidential-election-2024","tag-romania"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}