Even though the referendum on the Republic of Moldova's accession to the EU and the presidential elections were narrowly in favour of the pro-European camp, the country is still in a precarious situation: In particular, the energy supply in the coming year poses challenges for the ‘PAS’-led government. As the transit contract for Russian gas via Ukraine expires at the end of 2024, the gas supply for Transnistria is unclear. The supply contract between Russia and the Republic of Moldova provides for delivery up to the national border, also via other supply routes. However, it is unclear whether Russia will take advantage of the emergency situation in winter and create an energy crisis by cancelling or reducing deliveries. In any case, the population of Moldova will have to prepare for further increases in energy prices.
The issue is also politically volatile: Moldova will hold landmark parliamentary elections between July and September 2025. A winter of crisis could further tilt the political mood in the country. The current dissatisfaction with the government is particularly evident not only in rural regions, where Russian-speaking minorities predominate. A drastic loss of votes for the ruling party in the parliamentary elections could jeopardise Moldova's EU integration course, as the main opposition parties are EU-sceptical. One of the government's greatest challenges in the first half of 2025 will therefore be to convince sections of the population in rural regions of its pro-European course by significantly improving their living conditions.
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Group photo of the participants and project partners
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Meeting with Ion Groza and Ion Druta, MP of the PAS party
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Meeting with representatives of the ministry of energy
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Moldovan and EU flags
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Participants of the CAPACITY4EU exchange visit
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Day trip to the region Gagauzia
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Ortsschild in Kopcak, Gagausien
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Meeting with Anatolie Talmaci, Deputy Mayor of Kopcac
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Peter Buschmann, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Moldova, and Inna Supac, IPIS
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Peter Buschmann, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Moldova, hands over certificates to the participants of the CAPACITY4EU training series
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Group photo with participants of the CAPACITY4EU training series
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Iulian Groza (IPRE), Peter Buschmann (Deputy Ambassador), Inna Supac (IPIS) and Dominic Maugeais (IEP)
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CAPACITY4EU Exchange Lab
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Dr. Alexandr Macuhin, Analyst
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Svenja Niederfranke, DGAP
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Sergiu Tofilat, Analyst
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Dr. Shushanik Minasyan-Ostermann, University of Bonn
An exchange trip for representatives of German civil society to the Republic of Moldova took place between 9 and 12 December 2024 as part of the CAPACITY4EU project. The trip was organised in close cooperation with our Moldovan project partners, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) and the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS). The talks provided first-hand insights into the political situation in the country and the challenges for the coming year.
The Exchange Lab, organised as part of the trip, offered the opportunity for further networking between German and Moldovan civil society. The exchange also contributed to an informed dialogue with and about the Republic of Moldova in the areas of EU communication, migration, foreign policy and countering disinformation.
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