EPD exploratory working visit to Moldova 02-07 February, 2009
The
EPD organized its first exploratory trip to Moldova on 02 – 07 February
2009, the second country where EPD will set up pilot projects in the
post-Soviet region. The exploratory trip took place in a very
important time for Moldova – the beginning of the 2009 parliamentary
election campaign. The election campaign lasts two months and the 2009
parliamentary elections will take place on 5 April 2009. Many political
observers anticipate changes in the government, since the level of
dissatisfaction with the current government is very high among the
population. The main problems of the election process in Moldova as
identified by political parties, civil society and the international
democracy providers, are voter registration, voting privacy,
non-existence of equal campaign opportunities, and the insufficient
number of overseas polling stations. Additionally, the Parliament, in
breach of the Venice Commission’s recommendation on lowering the
threshold for political parties, raised the threshold on the eve of the
election process to 6% and banned any political party blocks. The new
law on political parties passed in 2007 foresees a control over the
election campaign financing by the Central Election Commission.
The
EPD delegation comprised of Markus Meckel - member of the Board of
Directors of the EPD and a member of the German Bundestag, Halya Senyk
and Oleh Kyriyenko – EDP experts on the post-Soviet region. The
objectives of the working visit were: to study the state of democracy
in Moldova, to assess the democracy assistance projects of various
governmental and non-governmental bodies with the main focus on the
European players, and to look for a niche for future EPD programme
containing knowledge, advocacy and flexible funding elements.
The
EPD delegation met with various stakeholders including civil society
representatives, international donors, embassies and bilateral aid
agencies, political parties and independent experts. The stakeholders
were asked to provide an assessment of the political situation in
Moldova, problems of democracy building in the country, civil and
political society and an overview of their own work. They were asked to
identify areas in which EPD contribution could make a difference and
possible partners. The majority of the stakeholders mentioned a problem
of weak local democratic governance and the necessity to conduct fiscal
and political decentralization in Moldova. Local authorities remain
dependent on central authorities for funding and access to resources.
At the same time, the government is perceived to favour local
communities led by representatives of the Communist Party of Moldova
(PMC) and interferes with the prerogatives of the local authorities.
Further, all major stakeholders characterized the Transnistria conflict
as a serious impediment to democratic processes in Moldova. Civil and
political societies in Moldova raised their concerns also regarding the
lack of access to media, which is still under excessive governmental
influence, as is the Broadcasting Coordination Council. Self-censorship
is common, as well as intimidation of journalists investigating
corruption cases. Media concentration in the hands of people closely
affiliated to the Communist Party of Moldova (PMC) also raises concerns
for plurality in Moldovan media. Media outlets continue to struggle to
ensure their financial sustainability, hindered by constant political
influence and governmental abuses of revenue and other fiscal pressure
to silence undesirable media outlets. Corruption and weak judiciary
system were also perceived as serious impediments of democracy in
Moldova.
On the last day of the exploratory trip the EPD
organized a roundtable with active CSOs in Moldova, whose leaders
discussed the main challenges and obstacles for civil society
organizations in Moldova, how to make CSOs activities more high-profile
and influential, the role of civil society in the EU-integration
processes and the current problems of cooperation between government
and civil society. The representatives of CSOs expressed their common
concern with the lack of civic education and activism in Moldova and
the insufficient involvement of CSOs in advocacy and watch-dog
activities.
The EPD has also visited a round table organized
by representatives of civil society in Transnistria and discussed the
problems of CSOs in Transnistria, their role in molding political
environment in the region and their needs. The EPD has also met with a
civic activists, sociologist and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper
“Novyi Vek” (New Century) – Lena Bobkova to discuss the political
situation in the region and possibility to promote democracy and
pluralism in Transnistria.
The delegation also met with
representatives of political parties, civil society organizations and
independent press. Some of the main problems voiced by Moldovan and
foreign representatives were the lack of constructive dialogue,
insufficient capacity of both the government and opposition parties to
implement real democratic changes and insufficient involvement CSOs in
policy-making and oversight of the government activities.
Following
this exploratory working visit, the EPD team will develop
recommendations for its further work in Moldova, which will be
submitted to the Board of Directors meeting in March 2009.
Halya Senyk
11 February 2009