WE&EU Project: Citizens from Nisporeni discuss EU support to Moldova at 2nd Dialogue Event
On 11 December 2019 the second Citizens‘ Dialogue in the framework of the project “EU perceptions and reality in Moldova (WE&EU)” was jointly organized by the Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) and the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS). Around 40 representatives from local civil society, public authorities, local businesses, as well as from the health and educational sector participated in the event in Nisporeni.
The purpose of the event was to foster an open and informed dialogue about the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, its specific contents and underlying values, as well as its impact on the Moldovan economy and the benefits for citizens. The participants had the opportunity to discuss these issues in an interactive and informal format with experts in the field. Furthermore, EU support programmes for the Republic of Moldova were presented and concrete funding opportunities highlighted.
The discussion was centred on the importance of EU support for Moldova’s modernization process, and the opportunities this support offers to local businesses, public administration and the society as a whole. The exchange of best-practices and experience, financial support for the implementation of key reforms as well as investments into regional development were mentioned as positive examples in this regard. Furthermore, the EU’s emphasis on the respect for core values concerning democracy, rule of law and the protection of human rights was highlighted during the discussion as a positive key impact of the EU’s activities in Moldova.
The project “WE&EU: EU Perceptions and Reality in Moldova” aims at making a substantial contribution to overcoming the societal dividing lines in Moldova regarding the EU rapprochement process by promoting informed intra-societal dialogue on the specific contents and underlying values of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement and the concrete benefits of modernising Moldova in the course of the EU rapprochement process. The project activities between July 2019 and June 2020 include citizens’ dialogues, workshops, public conferences and TV debates in diverse regions such as Basarabeasca, Orhei, Nisporeni and Ungheni. The project is kindly supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
More information on the project can be found here.