Series:IDIS Policy Briefs

The Impact of the National Currency Exchange Rate on Farmers in the Republic of Moldova

Impactul ratei de schimb a monedei naţionale (MDL) asupra fermierilor din Republica Moldova

Author(s): Victor Parlicov,Veaceslav Ioniţă / Language(s): Romanian

Keywords: agriclture in Moldova; land price; local currency;

The main purpose of this study was to describe and estimate in value the impact that the appreciation of the national currency has had in recent years in relation to the currencies of the main international partners in terms of trade in agricultural products. For the analysis of currency fluctuations, a weighted currency basket composed of the Euro, the US dollar, the Ukrainian hryvnia, the Russian ruble and the Romanian leu was taken as reference. We would like to mention that this value is an estimate and that there are a multitude of other factors that affect agricultural producers in proportions even greater than these, including restrictions on exports of agricultural products, Moldova's inability to protect the interests of local producers in export markets, issues related to VAT refund, etc.

The epic of the baccalaureate: in search of an impossible solution

Epopeea bacalaureatului: în căutarea unei soluții imposibile

Author(s): Sergiu Lipcean / Language(s): Romanian

In this brief analysis we will make an attempt to "scan" the circumstances specific to this year's BAC by elucidating the arguments of the promoters and opponents of the formula proposed by the MoE. We will also try to follow the path of the actions taken by the competent authorities in the management of the BAC and to investigate to what extent they are in line with the institutional discourse. Finally, we will try to identify possible solutions and their long-term implications on improving the situation in relation to the management of the BAC.

Gagauzia Autonomy: Political Blackmail or in Search of New Contractual Relations between Comrat and Chisinau

Gagauzia Autonomy: Political Blackmail or in Search of New Contractual Relations between Comrat and Chisinau

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): English

Keywords: federalism;

The special status of Gagauzia provides the autonomous territorial unit with large self-government competence. Thus, the Popular Assembly is the Gagauzia representative authority, which has been vested with the right to adopt normative acts within the limits of its competence. Also the population of this region elects for a 4-year period a Governor to whom all the Gagauzia public authorities are subordinated. Mention should be made that several important state positions in the territorial unit are nominated by the Popular Assembly, which is investing the local legislative body with an important role as far as the personnel policy of Gagauzia is concerned. Even if more than 18 years have passed since this political compromise between the centre and the Gagauz region was reached, periodically, conflict signs between the Chisinau and Comrat authorities emerge on different occasions. Over the last year though, the Gagauz political elite has expressed certain dissatisfaction which reminds about the events from the early ‘90s. A conflict is also made obvious between the most important institutions of the autonomy – the Popular Assembly and the Gagauzia Governor (Bashkan). The political fight within the autonomy has direct impact on the relations between the Comrat political elite and the central authorities. This interconnection complicates the situation in the autonomy as well as the relations between the region and the center. The modality of electing these two important institutions from Gagauzia- the Popular Assembly and the Governor (Bashkan) - is a permanent conflict element between the legislative and executive authorities in the situation when the majority in the local legislative and the Bashkan do not represent the same political formation. In other words, in contrast to the national legislation where the state president is elected by the Parliament, in the Administrative Territorial Unit (UTA) of Gagauzia, the members of the Popular Assembly and the Governor are elected directly by the population of the three rayons which make the Gagauz Autonomy.

Social reforms in the Republic of Moldova: A particular Case - the Reform of the Pension System

Reformele sociale din Republica Moldova: un caz particular – reforma sistemului de pensii

Author(s): Cornel Ciurea / Language(s): Romanian

Keywords: social reforms; pension system;

This analysis focuses on three types of reforms that are being implemented in the Republic of Moldova - reforms related to European integration, anti-corruption reforms and social reforms. The author makes a comparative analysis, highlighting the more pronounced ideological character of social reforms and the increased degree of conflict, typical of these reforms. At the same time, the paper suggests the imminence of the political factor present in the multitude of social phenomena. In this order of ideas, the case of the reform of the pension system is analyzed, being highlighted the political valences of the approach. The author considers that, unlike the university education reform, promoted by the Ministry of Education with sufficient force, despite the accompanying criticism, the reform of the pension system seems to be rather an "eternally postponed reform" due to lack of political will. This postponement cannot, however, last indefinitely.

The Process of structural Reform of pre-university Education: Results, Problems, Perspectives

Procesul de reformă structurală a Învățământului preuniversitar: rezultate, probleme, perspective

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): Romanian

Keywords: pre-university education;

In this study we aimed to make an analysis of the results of the implementation of structural reform in pre-university education institutions. We focused our attention on the main actions taken to achieve the set objectives, as well as on the problems faced by the authorities implementing this process. We also reviewed the political parties' criticisms of structural reform in education. We found that there were several constraints in the process, and some irregularities were recorded. Political interference in establishing the final list of schools subject to optimization, a less open environment for collaboration in the implementation of the reform, as well as the situation of dismissed people are the most important constraints that affected the reform. The Ministry of Education must take a stand on these objections and draw up an evaluation report on this process.

Causes and Effects of the Referenda from UTA Gagauz-Yeri

Causes and Effects of the Referenda from UTA Gagauz-Yeri

Author(s): Veaceslav Berbeca / Language(s): English

Keywords: Gagauz-Yeri;

On February 2nd, 2014, two referenda took place in the Administrative-Territorial Unit Gagauz-Yeri (UTAG Gagauzia) - one of consultative and the other one of “legislative” character. In the first case, the residents of Gagauzia were called to cast their votes over the foreign policy vector of the Republic of Moldova and namely, to say if they are in favour of the country joining the European Union or the Russia- Belorussia- Kazakhstan Customs Union. In the second case, the citizens of the region had to say if they agree that the Gagauz autonomy exercises its right to the external self-determination in case the Republic of Moldova loses its independence.

Maternity benefits - Between informal practices and the need to optimize the Social Security System

Indemnizațiile de maternitate – între practici informale și necesitatea optimizării sistemului de asigurări sociale

Author(s): Cornel Ciurea / Language(s): Romanian

Keywords: maternity-leave;

On December 23, 2013, at the proposal of the Government, the Parliament votes Law no. 332, through which amendments were made to Law no. 289 of 2004 on allowances for temporary incapacity for work and other social insurance benefits. The main changes concern the calculation of maternity allowances and monthly allowances for raising a child until the age of 3 years. This law attracted a number of criticisms from the Liberal Party of the Republic of Moldova, but also from some institutions that endorsed the law (especially the NAC) who considered that the changes in question worsen the situation of pregnant women and reduce maternity benefits. This analysis is an attempt to debate the arguments of the opponents of this reform in order to discover the hidden springs that have determined the existence of abuses that this new law wants to remove. At the same time, the author wants to demonstrate the need to ensure equal treatment of all insured persons in order to reconcile the contributions paid with the promised payments in the form of maternity allowances, childcare allowances until the age of 3 and, at the same time, in order to ensure the financial sustainability of the state social insurance budget. The analysis was performed by successively interviewing the parties involved in the dispute. Given the resonance and sensitivity of the case, we wanted to present the real situation to show the difficulties faced by both the public social security system and the beneficiaries of this system.