EU-Moldova Action Plan: Making the Document Accessible to the Public (year 1)

Project title: EU-Moldova Action Plan: Making the Document Accessible to the Public (year 1);

Implementation period: November 1, 2005 – January 31, 2007;

Funded by: DFID UK;

Partner: Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT (Republic of Moldova);

Project goal: Create a framework for a large debate in Moldovan society on the benefits of EU-Moldova Actions Plan (EUMAP) in view of raising society’s acceptance of European values. In order to achieve the goal, two specific objectives have been targeted: raising the public awareness and knowledge about the EUMAP and influencing the public policy in areas covered by the EUMAP;

Main activities:

• Monitored in a systematic way the implementation of the economic part of the EUMAP;
• Conducted economic and social analyses in the areas relevant to the EUMAP;
• Advocated in bilateral meetings, roundtables and workshops with members of the Parliament and the Government for the implementation of the policy changes;
• Advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration on Ministry's reports regarding the EUMAP implementation;
• Prepared independent reports concerning the EUMAP implementation;
• Delivered public presentations during roundtables on economic part of the EUMAP;
• Organized and maintained media campaign to educate the public interest regarding the EUMAP and general European integration policy;
• Organized public meetings as venue for discussion between public officials and civil society on the implementation of the EU-Moldova Actions Plan priorities;

Main outputs and outcomes:

• Euromonitor no.1;
• Euromonitor no.2;
• Euromonitor no.3;
• Euromonitor no.4;
• Euromonitor no.5;
• Policy paper “Optimizing policy and practice for Moldova using efficiently the EU assistance”, author Liliana Popescu;
• Policy paper “Youth and education policy: implementing EU standards in Moldovan high education”, author Nicolae Toderas;
• Policy paper “Harmonizing the natural resources and cultural patrimony policies for developing the cross-border tourism within the EU-Moldova partnership”, authors Viorel Miron and Veaceslav Gututui;
• Policy paper “Consolidation of the administrative capacities for the implementation of the EUMAP”, author Ion Osoianu;
• Policy paper “Evolutions, trends and forecasts regarding the labor market in Republic of Moldova on its way to European standards”, author Iurie Gotişan;
• Materials and presentations delivered at the five national and regional roundtables;
• Brochure on EUMAP in Romanian and English languages;

Project impact:

The project activities and results were widely reflected in and used by the national mass media. The project has thus contributed to improving the social awareness of the EUMAP - according to social opinion polls, the share of citizens knowing about the EUMAP grew from 47% in Jan 2006 to 70% in Nov 2007. Project findings and outputs served as alternative sources of information for members of the Moldovan Parliament during the April 2006 hearings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) report on implementation of the EUMAP. The project has contributed to the MFAIE positive change in its relations with and attitude towards the Moldovan civil society. Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan has personally expressed his gratitude to EXPERT-GRUP and ADEPT for the good results that project produced and for the good cooperation with the Ministry. The project was so successful that EXPERT-GRUP and ADEPT were invited to share their experience with representatives of the NGOs from Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus at a brainstorming meeting “Fostering Civil Society Dialogue and Experience Exchange among Eastern EU Neighbors that are Part of the European Neighborhood Policy” that took place in Kiev, Ukraine (March 2007).