Another great update on current affairs. Thanks David. I read your prior post about the farmer's dilemma. Seems to me that the government will finally allow grain exports when transport trucks can't use the roads due to the heat...
Currently reading Robert D. Kaplan's Adriatic, and came across this quote from a former Croatian foreign minister Vesna Pusić: "The long process of joining the EU was better than membership itself. The process forced us to aspire to liberal democratic values. But once we were admitted to the EU we put membership in our pocket, so to speak, and reverted to our old ways." (Croatia was admitted in 2013; Kaplan notes that the EU was becoming less idealistic and more bureaucratic/political by then and of course, now it's worse.)
Moldova can get some good work done with official Candidacy. It'll be interesting to follow Ms. Dragalin with her hands-on experience in the fully-functioning anti-corruption infrastructure of California.
Hi Grace! I'm sorry I only saw this comment now. I fully agree that the process of joining the EU represents a major opportunity for Moldova. For countries, just like people, it's sometimes easier to work towards a rubric where you know that you need to do x, y and z to move forwards.
At the same time, the EU is a very bureaucratic block. I think the big challenge for Moldova will be to pass reforms not just on the technical (and important) background items but to also make bold moves that the public will feel day to day. In a sense, there is also a major opportunity for Moldova to leapfrog some EU regulations and position itself as a leader in some areas. Because of the political crisis in the region there is no time like the present for bold reforms and the EU will likely give Moldova a lot of slack so long as they are meeting the agreed on technical targets. Let's hope this opportunity isn't missed.
Another great update on current affairs. Thanks David. I read your prior post about the farmer's dilemma. Seems to me that the government will finally allow grain exports when transport trucks can't use the roads due to the heat...
Currently reading Robert D. Kaplan's Adriatic, and came across this quote from a former Croatian foreign minister Vesna Pusić: "The long process of joining the EU was better than membership itself. The process forced us to aspire to liberal democratic values. But once we were admitted to the EU we put membership in our pocket, so to speak, and reverted to our old ways." (Croatia was admitted in 2013; Kaplan notes that the EU was becoming less idealistic and more bureaucratic/political by then and of course, now it's worse.)
Moldova can get some good work done with official Candidacy. It'll be interesting to follow Ms. Dragalin with her hands-on experience in the fully-functioning anti-corruption infrastructure of California.
Hi Grace! I'm sorry I only saw this comment now. I fully agree that the process of joining the EU represents a major opportunity for Moldova. For countries, just like people, it's sometimes easier to work towards a rubric where you know that you need to do x, y and z to move forwards.
At the same time, the EU is a very bureaucratic block. I think the big challenge for Moldova will be to pass reforms not just on the technical (and important) background items but to also make bold moves that the public will feel day to day. In a sense, there is also a major opportunity for Moldova to leapfrog some EU regulations and position itself as a leader in some areas. Because of the political crisis in the region there is no time like the present for bold reforms and the EU will likely give Moldova a lot of slack so long as they are meeting the agreed on technical targets. Let's hope this opportunity isn't missed.