News & press releases
Effective Measures and Political Will Can Save Moldova's Public Pension System from Collapse
Tuesday, 09 June 2015
A new study published by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” and authored by Adrian Lupușor finds that Moldova's public pension system is unsustainable both financially and socially. It sets out a package of reforms covering contributions, indexation, the retirement age, multi-pillar pensions and the fight against informal employment.
Expert-Grup welcomes the Prime Minister's initiative to demand better management of public money from state institutions
Thursday, 04 June 2015
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău welcomes the initiative of Moldovan Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici, who issued order no. 1221-127 of 21 May 2015. The order requests information from institutions on how ministries and central administrative authorities implemented Court of Accounts decisions in 2013-2014.
Lack of political will and civil servants' competence among major causes of budget gaps in local public authorities
Wednesday, 03 June 2015
A new infographic published by Budgetstories.md shows that in 2014 the irregularities in public money management identified by the Court of Accounts totalled MDL 8 billion, with one third of the losses occurring in local public authorities. It attributes them largely to a lack of political will and to civil servants' incompetence.
Expert-Grup's recommendations after studying the Kroll report
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Chișinău-based Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has studied the Kroll report on the banking crisis and prepared an analysis of it. The analysis describes five fundamental factors that worsened the situation in the banking system and proposes solutions for strengthening the sector.
Better Roads and Railways Thanks to the Association Agreement
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Budgetstories.md has published a new infographic and an analytical note setting out how the EU Association Agreement will benefit transport in Moldova. They describe the poor state of roads and railways and the investments and reforms planned to modernise both.
Free Trade with the EU and the CIS: Two Compatible Options
Monday, 27 April 2015
Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has released an analytical note and an infographic on Budgetstories.md showing that the Free Trade Agreements with the EU and with the CIS are compatible options for the Republic of Moldova, which can pursue its external economic activity in both zones simultaneously.
Moldova awaits an up to 1.8% recession in 2015, amid the regional crisis and problems in the country’s banking system (estimates)
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
CHIȘINĂU, Expert-Grup / Moldova will face difficult economic prospects in 2015, GDP being projected to decline by 0.2% in the base rundown and 1.8% in the pessimistic scenario, all while public authorities do not seem sufficiently prepared to face the difficulties, according to a new report published by Chisinau based Expert-Grup think tank.
Moldovan economy becoming less dependent of the Russian Market
Tuesday, 07 April 2015
The EU Association Agreement Brings Financial Support for the Development of Moldovan SMEs
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Budgetstories.md has launched a new infographic, “Why do Moldovan entrepreneurs need free trade with the EU?”, explaining how the EU Association Agreement benefits Moldovan entrepreneurs and SME owners. It outlines the financial and non-financial support instruments the Agreement offers to small and medium-sized businesses.
Euromonitor: 2014 saw a turning point in the relations between Moldova and the EU
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Expert-Grup Recommendations on Stabilising the Moldovan Leu
Friday, 13 March 2015
On 13 March 2015, in Chișinău, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, with support from the Soros-Moldova Foundation, launched the study “Diagnosis of the Depreciation of the Moldovan Leu”. It explains the causes of the recent depreciation, outlines possible scenarios for Moldova's economy and proposes ways to stabilise the national currency.
Identifying an External Evaluator for the Project “Social Accountability for Education Reform in the Republic of Moldova”
Friday, 13 March 2015
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău, funded by the World Bank, is inviting expressions of interest from individual consultants to evaluate the first year of its “Școala Mea” education project. Applications must be submitted by 20 March 2015, 19.00 Moldovan time.
Ready for post-2015? A place to start in Moldova
Monday, 09 March 2015
In a post originally published on UNDP's Voice for Eurasia blog, the authors present findings from a foresighting exercise in Moldova run with Futurescaper. They examine which public institutions should lead the adaptation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the main institutional challenges, and six areas of recommendations for reform.
We Are Selecting Schools as Beneficiaries of the “My School” Initiative
Thursday, 26 February 2015
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău has announced a competition to select 20 schools as beneficiaries and partners for the second year of the initiative “My School – Social Accountability for Education Reform in the Republic of Moldova”. Applications must be submitted by 11 March 2015.
The challenges facing Moldova on its path to Europe, by Denis Cenușă
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
The London-based Foreign Policy Centre has recently published a set of articles on the EU's Neighbourhood countries, titled “Trouble in the Neighbourhood? The future of the EU's Eastern Partnership”. The collection includes a contribution by Denis Cenușă, an associate expert of the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”.
Reasons for Energy Consumers to Be Glad as the EU Association Agreement Is Implemented
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Budgetstories.md has launched a new infographic, “Modernisation of the energy sector after the implementation of the EU Association Agreement”. It shows the opportunities the Agreement offers for modernising the energy sector in the Republic of Moldova, and what ordinary consumers can expect once its provisions are put into practice.
Major Irregularities in Agricultural Subsidies and Energy Efficiency Fund Management Found by the Court of Accounts
Friday, 20 February 2015
On 20 February 2014 in Chișinău, Expert-Grup, supported by the Soros Foundation Moldova, launched the study “How Public Money Is Lost” for the fourth quarter of 2014. It monitors the implementation of Court of Accounts reports following its 2013 audits of the agricultural producers subsidy fund and the Energy Efficiency Fund.
Scoalamea.md website was launched – an online platform that aims to increase participation in Moldovan schools
Friday, 20 February 2015
Political difficulties hinder the proper implementation of reforms undertaken towards the EU
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
The Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT and Expert-Grup have presented a new edition of their quarterly publication “EUROMONITOR” in Chișinău. It describes the main developments and shortcomings in implementing the EU-Moldova Action Plan between October and December 2014. The document can be downloaded from www.expert-grup.org.
NGO Leaders Learn How to Influence Social Policies for the Benefit of Children and Families
Friday, 06 February 2015
Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” held a training workshop on “Public Policy and Advocacy” in Chișinău on 5-6 February 2015 for members of the Alliance of NGOs active in child and family protection (APSCF). It was supported by UNICEF Moldova and the Government of Sweden.
How will the Association Agreement change the lives of Moldovan consumers?
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Budgetstories.md has launched a new infographic explaining how the Association Agreement with the EU will benefit consumers in the Republic of Moldova. It sets out the expected changes in consumer protection, from cross-border complaints to faster removal of dangerous products, as Moldova's system becomes part of the European one.
We Declare a Boycott of the Media Outlet Pro TV Chișinău for Defying the Code of Ethics
Friday, 23 January 2015
Several NGOs have joined an initiative by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” to boycott the media outlet Pro TV Chișinău. The move follows a news item broadcast on 16 January, which violated human dignity and the right to private life and defied the Journalist's Code of Ethics.
We Declare a Boycott of the Media Outlet Pro TV Chișinău for Defying the Code of Ethics
Wednesday, 21 January 2015
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has announced a boycott of the television channel Pro TV Chișinău. It says the channel's report from Ungheni disregarded the right to private life and human dignity, and that the broadcaster has neither removed the report from its website nor apologised publicly.
Top 5 Economic Successes and Failures in 2014 and Top 5 Challenges for 2015
Monday, 29 December 2014
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has launched the seventh annual “X-ray” of the economy of the Republic of Moldova. It comprises three “Top 5” lists, in random order: the economic successes and failures of 2014, and the economic challenges expected in 2015.
Expert-Grup estimates an economic recession of 3%-5% for the Transnistrian region in 2015
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has launched the second edition of its Regional Economic Review: the Transnistrian region. The publication analyses the economic performance of the left bank of the Dniester in 2014 and forecasts the main challenges for 2015, including an expected recession of 3-5%.
Recommendations on the draft law for implementing the 2015 budget and fiscal policy
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
On Tuesday, 16 December, Expert-Grup held a round table titled “Presentation of the draft fiscal, customs and budget policy for 2015”. The event presented the think tank's proposals on the 2015 budget and fiscal policy and discussed the main challenges seen by business representatives.
The new government must make a decisive choice for modernising the country and moving it closer to the EU
Thursday, 11 December 2014
The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has launched the 11th edition of its publication MEGA: Analysis of Moldova’s Economic Growth for 2014-2015. The presentation drew a broad audience of state institutions, the National Bank of Moldova, the private sector, commercial banks, donors, diplomatic missions, academia and civil society.
Budget Transparency as a General Factor in the Fight against Grand Corruption (Presentation)
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Dumitru Budianschi, Programme Director at Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, gave a presentation at the National Anticorruption Conference. Titled “Budget transparency as a general factor in the fight against grand corruption”, it was delivered at the event held on 9 December 2014.
Public Hearings: An Unprecedented Exercise in Civic Participation
Friday, 05 December 2014
The “My School” initiative held a series of public hearings in all 20 of its partner schools across Moldova. More than 1,500 pupils, parents, teachers, school administrators and mayors took part in what the organisers describe as an unprecedented democratic exercise in the Republic of Moldova.
After Only Two Months of Implementation, the EU Association Agreement Brings the First Tangible Results
Monday, 24 November 2014
Only two months after the EU Association Agreement entered into provisional force on 1 September 2014, it is already producing tangible effects for Moldova. Under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU, producers that have implemented EU standards can export to that market without customs duties.