News & press releases

Petru Rareș Lyceum in Soroca: Four Years After the “My School” Project

Thursday, 15 March 2018

Four years after joining the “My School” project in 2014, the Petru Rareș Lyceum in Soroca, Moldova, has made budget transparency and the involvement of parents, pupils and teachers part of everyday school management. A journalist visited the lyceum to see how its decision-making has changed since then.

Strengthening the regulator can help improve tariff policy in the energy sector

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Despite the progress achieved in the energy legislation over the past few years, additional efforts are needed to improve the tariff policy for electricity and gas. Both energy sector actors and civil society representatives believe that the tariff setting mechanism, the criteria applied to suppliers, and the real decision-making independence of the sector regulator over policy makers need to be adjusted.

Another 20 General Education Institutions across the Country to Receive Assistance under the “My School” Project

Monday, 05 March 2018

Directors of 20 general education institutions joining the “My School” project in 2018 signed multilateral cooperation memorandums with district and local authorities. The signing event was attended by State Secretary Angela Cutasevici of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, and confirms the registration of the schools in the initiative.

Victoria Romanov: Future applicants should bring a creative perspective on how they see and feel about the European Union

Monday, 26 February 2018

Victoria Romanov, a 17-year-old from Rezina, has become one of the winners of the Youth Essay Prize Competition, organised for young people from Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, the three signatories of Association Agreements and DCFTAs with the EU. In an interview, she explains what the win meant to her.

Meet the Moldovan winner of the international “Youth Essay Prize Competition” launched by Expert-Grup

Thursday, 22 February 2018

On 21 February, the Swedish Embassy in Chișinău hosted the award ceremony for the best essay in the international Essay Prize Competition. Winner Victoria Romanov received the Diploma of Merit from Swedish Ambassador Signe Burgstaller and Adrian Lupușor, Executive Director of the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, along with a set of textbooks.

Open Budget Index 2017 – the position of Moldova on a global level

Thursday, 01 February 2018

For the first time in history, Republic of Moldova was officially included in the OBI (Open Budget Index), reaching a score of 58 points out of 100, or 16 points higher than the global average (42 points), being ranked 33rd at the global level. The results reveal that our country offers limited budget information, along with Slovakia and Poland (59 points), higher than Ukraine (54) and Hungary (46), however, registering a lower score compared to Romania (75 points out of 100).

The Year of “My School” at the “Meșterul Manole” Lyceum in Sălcuța

Wednesday, 24 January 2018

A report by journalist Mihaela Gherasim describes how the “Meșterul Manole” Lyceum in Sălcuța, Moldova, used the “My School” project in 2017 to make its budget transparent and involve pupils, parents and the community in decisions. The project was implemented by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” with World Bank support.

The Health System of the Republic of Moldova: Real Needs for Strengthening and Optimisation

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

An analysis of the Moldovan health system's results for 1990–2015, presented at an event organised by Expert-Grup, shows a rather bleak picture compared with Western Europe and even with the former socialist countries of the region. Progress has been made, but it has not been enough to close the gaps.

Find out which schools will receive assistance under the “My School” project in 2018

Wednesday, 17 January 2018

On 19 January, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” announced the list of schools that will receive assistance under the “My School” project in 2018, its final year of implementation. Twenty lyceums and gymnasiums were selected to learn how to involve their communities in solving school problems and manage budgets more transparently.

Is Police Funding Too Expensive for the Republic of Moldova?

Thursday, 11 January 2018

On 11 January, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” held a press conference on the volume, structure and efficiency of budget spending on the Police in the Republic of Moldova. Study author Iurie Morcotîlo notes that police funding has risen continuously in both nominal and real terms, even during economic crises.

Republic of Moldova participates for the first time in the international ranking OBI (Open Budget Index)

Thursday, 04 January 2018

For the first time in history Republic of Moldova takes part in the OBI (Open Budget Index). This index measures the budgetary transparency and the access of public to the budgetary information. About 115 countries participate in this ranking, and the results are determined by the accumulated points. Among the countries with the highest points are New Zeeland, Sweden and South Africa.

Winners of the Second Call of the Youth Essay Prize Competition Announced

Wednesday, 27 December 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, has announced the results of the second call of the Youth Essay Prize Competition. It ran from 15 May to 30 August 2017 in Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, the three countries with Association Agreements and DCFTAs with the EU.

To date, the implementation level of the Roadmap on the priority reform agenda of Parliament and Government is 37.25%

Tuesday, 26 December 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, the Association for Participatory Democracy “ADEPT” and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova, with USAID support, are monitoring the Roadmap of priority reforms of the Government and Parliament for the second half of 2017. Implementation currently stands at 37.25%.

Ana Vivdici on “My School”: Teachers, Parents and Pupils Must Become the Engine of Their School’s Development

Friday, 22 December 2017

Ana Vivdici, head of the National School Inspectorate and former director of the Mihai Eminescu Lyceum in Hâncești, describes in an interview what the “My School” project run by Expert-Grup meant for her school in 2014, and how she applies that experience today.

Expert-Grup: 2018 will bring positive economic growth, but it will be too slow on the background of major risks

Thursday, 14 December 2017

In the absence of sustainable development models, the Moldovan economy could grow in 2018 by only 4%, concluded the experts of the Independent Think Tank Expert-Grup during the XVIIth edition of the MEGA economic conference. According to analysts, the next year's economic growth will be based on the assumption that the agricultural year will be favourable, the external budget support will continue and the household consumption will grow. However, the forecast reveals as well a number of concerns related to the competitiveness of the economy and the uncertainty regarding the 2018 parliamentary elections, that could affect the business investment decisions with eventual repercussions on bank lending.

Școala Mea: 20 schools awarded by the World Bank and Ministry of Education, Culture and Research for promotion of social responsibility

Monday, 04 December 2017

Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup summarizes the results of the fourth year of implementation of “Scoala Mea” (My School) project during the annual conference held at World Bank Office in Chisinau, today, December 4, 2017. During the event, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research appreciated the efforts of 20 beneficiary schools, awarding their managers with certificates for implication of citizens in budgetary dialogue and promotion social responsibility in the educational sector.

Great Ambitions - Limited Capacity: the Mid-term Evaluation of the Priority Reforms Roadmap Implementation by the Government and the Parliament

Friday, 01 December 2017

The Independent Analytic Centre ”Expert-Grup”, the Association for Participatory Democracy ”ADEPT”, and the Legal Resource Centre in Moldova, with the support of the USAID, have initiated the monitoring process of the Priority Reform Action Roadmap implementation. The aim of this exercise is to offer the public an independent opinion about the process of the reforms’ implementation by the Government and the Parliament and also increase the level of governance accountability. The mid-term evaluation is performed for the period between the date of signature of the document on July 5, 2017 until November 22, 2017. As stated by the authors of the document, it was designed to synchronize the efforts of both institutions to implement a series of urgent commitments under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, as well as to expedite some reforms to strengthen relations with the International Monetary Fund and other development partners.

Elena Cernei: “My School” – a project that teaches you how to make your school better

Monday, 20 November 2017

Elena Cernei, director of the “Onisifor Ghibu” Lyceum in Chișinău and a former Deputy Minister of Education, describes what her school learned from taking part in the “My School” project in 2014-2015, especially about managing budgets, transparency and involving pupils and parents in decisions.

The Need for Energy Sector Reform on the Agenda of Cahul Residents

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

On 13 November, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, in partnership with Expert-Forum, held the first public debate, “Energy, Politics and the Citizen's Pocket”, in Cahul. More than 50 students, civil society representatives, academics and local authorities discussed energy reform, interconnection projects with Romania and unfulfilled international commitments.

My School: The Public Hearing at School, an Exercise in Community Involvement and Accountability

Tuesday, 14 November 2017

A public hearing held at the Costuleni gymnasium in Ungheni district, Moldova, brought together parents, pupils, teachers, local officials and development partners to discuss the school's budget and problems. It was the school's first such hearing, organised under the “My School” project, which involves 20 schools nationwide.

Towards Moldova 2030: The new National Development Strategy must be people-centered

Wednesday, 08 November 2017

The mid-term review of the Moldova 2020 National Development Strategy (NDS Moldova 2020), presented today, shows modest progress, with only half of the corresponding targets being reached. Based on the constraints and lessons learned from its implementation, it is necessary to formulate a vision for 2030, integrating the Sustainable Development Agenda and the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. The new strategic document must be people-centered, based on human rights and gender equality, strengthening human potential, with an emphasis on raising the level of education of the population and improving health indicators.

GPSA Forum 2017: What “Democratises Democracy” and How Can the Crisis of Trust in State Institutions Be Overcome?

Wednesday, 08 November 2017

The fourth Global GPSA Forum took place from 30 October to 1 November at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington. Expert-Grup attended as a GPSA fund beneficiary and implementer of the national “Școala Mea” (My School) project in Moldova, alongside participants discussing citizen engagement and government accountability.

Expert-Grup announces the selection of schools to benefit from the “My School” initiative for 2018

Monday, 23 October 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has launched a competition to select 20 schools as beneficiaries and partners for the final year of the “My School” initiative. Schools can apply between 25 October and 30 November 2017 by completing a short form and signing an expression of interest on scoalamea.md.

Declaration of the Third Meeting of the Domestic Advisory Groups between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Trade and Sustainable Development

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Members of the Domestic Advisory Groups between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on trade and sustainable development held their third annual meeting on 17 October 2017, in line with Chapter 13 (Art. 377) on Trade and Sustainable Development of the Association Agreement between the two parties.

Press release: Three non-governmental organisations monitor the implementation of the Government's and Parliament's priority reform agenda

Friday, 13 October 2017

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, the Association for Participatory Democracy “ADEPT” and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova, with USAID support, have launched monitoring of the Roadmap for the priority reform agenda for the second half of 2017, to be carried out from October 2017 to January 2018.

Press Release: Ranking of Banking Performance in the Republic of Moldova

Thursday, 12 October 2017

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has developed a Banking Performance Ranking for the Republic of Moldova. It aims to objectively assess and compare the results of domestic commercial banks and to inform the public about the situation in the sector, using publicly available financial data.

International Annual Conference Macro 2017, 5th Edition

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

For the fifth consecutive year, Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung have organized one of the most important conference – MACRO 2017. At the event the “State of the Country Report 2017" was presented. This report represents a comprehensive analysis of the economic, social and political situation in the Republic of Moldova. The event took place on October 6 and gathered 13 speakers, from 6 countries: Hungary, Norway, Belgium, United Kingdom, Romania, and Republic of Moldova, to discuss the main development opportunities for the Republic of Moldova until 2030.

Expert-Grup launches the “la punct” campaign

Monday, 09 October 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has launched the “la punct” campaign, a 12-month project in the Republic of Moldova. It aims to raise public awareness of the causes and risks of systemic corruption and of the policies needed to reduce or even eliminate it.

Press Release: State of the Country Report 2017

Friday, 06 October 2017

State of the Country Report 2017 is a comprehensive analysis of the economic, social and political situation in the Republic of Moldova developed on an annual basis by the Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova. According to Adrian Lupușor, co-author of the study and executive director of the Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup, the objective of the 2017edition of the State of the Country Report is to analyse the development gaps between the Republic of Moldova and East and Central European countries and provide recommendations as how to overcome those gaps.

5 reasons to come to MACRO 2017

Wednesday, 04 October 2017

MACRO 2017 is one of the most anticipated economic conferences of the year. With only days left before the event starts, the organisers have compiled a list of five reasons to attend, from meeting international experts to hearing the findings of the State of the Country Report.

Despite the Increasing Reforms, Banking Sector’s Capacity to Adapt to the New Requirements can be Improved

Friday, 29 September 2017

Expert-Grup continues to monitor the economic tendencies in the Banking Sector. According to the author of the publication, Eugen Ghiletchi, banking sector reforms have recorded an increasing momentum once support programs from the IMF and the EU have been put in place, however, the main constraint remains the banking sector’s capacity to adapt to the new requirements.

MACRO 2017: “Moldova of 2030 in Europe of 2030: defining a sustainable development path in a dynamic environment”

Friday, 08 September 2017

MACRO 2017 is organized by the Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova. The conference aims to serve as a high-level intellectual platform to dissect the country’s economic, political and security related risks and opportunities, and discuss the way they shape the economic and social development path of the Republic of Moldova.

Expert-Grup offers support to parents to resolve problems with children's meals in public kindergartens in Chișinău

Monday, 31 July 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has issued a call to parents who want to help tackle the unresolved problem of children's meals in public kindergartens in Chișinău. The centre is offering consultancy and support to parents and parents' associations, with registration open until the 30 September 2017 deadline.

The law on bank activity - an important but insufficient step in overcoming the deficiencies of the banking sector

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

The analysis of the main reforms in the financial sector of Moldova, conducted by Expert – Grup in May - July 2017, reveals that transparency and governance remain the weak points that delay the reform of the banking sector. Compared with the last analysis of the financial sector reforms, conduced in April 2017, the author of the study, Eugen Ghileţchi noticed a relatively slow progress in the implementation of the plan for strengthening the banking industry, which focused on 7 directions of reform. In addition, the author mentioned that the approval of the new law on bank activity will improve the regulatory framework of the sector, but will not ensure the qualitative changes of the sector without their effective implementation.

Questionnaire for the mid-term evaluation of the National Development Strategy “Moldova 2020”

Friday, 21 July 2017

The Moldovan Government has launched the mid-term evaluation of the National Development Strategy (NDS) “Moldova 2020”, to be completed by the end of July 2017. It invites the public to complete an anonymous online questionnaire on how the strategy has been implemented.

The National Regional Development Fund: an underused instrument for regional economic development

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

On 11 July, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” discussed at a public event how the National Regional Development Fund (NRDF) is used, and the impact and efficiency of its investments in regional development in the Republic of Moldova. The Fund's annual budget is about MDL 150-200 million, roughly 1% of State Budget revenue.

Moldova has committed to achieving 106 targets for a better life by 2030

Wednesday, 05 July 2017

The Republic of Moldova has committed to achieving 106 targets for a better life by 2030. The respective targets represent the outcome of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’s nationalization. Moldova has committed to implement the 2030 Agenda jointly with the other 192 UN Member States by adopting the Declaration of the Sustainable Development Summit that took place in September 2015 in New York.

Expert-Grup announces a new call for participation in the Youth Essay Prize Competition

Monday, 03 July 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), has launched the second call for entries to the Youth Essay Prize competition. Essays should address the Association Agreements and DCFTAs between the EU and Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, and entries are open to young people up to 30 years old.

Youth Essay Prize Competition Awards Its First Finalists and Launches a New Call for Entries

Thursday, 29 June 2017

On 28 June, the first finalists of the international Youth Essay Prize Competition, Dinu Codreanu and Bogdan Cuza, received their awards at the Swedish Embassy in Chișinău. The prizes were presented by Ambassador Signe Burgstaller and Adrian Lupușor of the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”.

Parliament Has Yet to Find Solutions to Increase Implementation of Court of Accounts Recommendations

Thursday, 22 June 2017

On 22 June, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” presented at a public event a study on how the Court of Accounts' recommendations were implemented. Of roughly 1,446 recommendations issued in 2015–2016, whose deadline expired on 1 June 2017, implementation remains extremely low.

How can we grant full property rights to citizens and local authorities who invested in natural gas distribution networks?

Friday, 16 June 2017

On 16 June, at a press conference, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” put the unresolved issue of gas pipelines built under the so-called “national gasification programme” back on the public agenda. The experts call on central authorities to implement a roadmap and register the property of investors who helped build the infrastructure.

The justice sector remains non-transparent, the pay system underperforms, and public-private partnerships serve as a tool for diverting the public interest

Thursday, 15 June 2017

An analysis by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” reviews public sector performance in three areas: implementation of the 2011–2016 justice sector reform strategy, public sector pay, and public-private partnerships. It finds inefficient use of money, inequity and a lack of transparency in Moldova.

Expert-Grup proposes a reform of the government securities market that would cut debt servicing costs and mobilise resources for infrastructure projects

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has presented, at a public event, a concept for reforming Moldova's government securities market. The proposal aims to reduce the cost of servicing public debt and to mobilise resources for infrastructure projects, by reducing the dominance of commercial banks in the market.

Public Procurement Reform in the Republic of Moldova: A Reform with Backlogs

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” economist Iurie Morcotîlo argues in his latest publication that Moldova's public procurement reform remains half-finished. Despite the EU Association Agreement and the new procurement law, the National Authority for Complaint Resolution (ANSC) has still not been created, leaving the system without a dedicated body for handling complaints for over a year.

Expert-Grup: in 2017 the Moldovan economy will grow by 6%, but the growth factors are temporary

Thursday, 18 May 2017

The XVIth edition of the economic magazine MEGA, brings back today, May 18, the issue of the economic growth of the Republic of Moldova. According to experts, in 2016 the country’s Gross Domestic Product increased by 4.1%, exceeding the forecasts. The evolution was mainly determined by the higher than expected increase in consumption and exports of goods and services, which grew quicker than imports. The main growth factor was the recovery of the agriculture after the 2015 drought, which was undermined by the slumps in investement and construction activities. All in all, the economy did not perform much better compared to the countries in Central and Eastern Europe with GDP per capita several times bigger compared to that of Moldova.

Who are the first winners of the essay contest organised by Expert-Grup in partnership with CEPS?

Monday, 15 May 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, has announced the results of the first call of its essay contest on the Association Agreements and DCFTAs between the European Union and Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

Despite Some Progress in Reforming the Banking Sector, the Major Vulnerabilities That Caused the Banking Crisis Persist

Thursday, 04 May 2017

At a press conference, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” presented its assessment of how the authorities have implemented its recommendations for consolidating Moldova's banking sector. It found moderate progress: of 35 recommendations, 9 were implemented, 15 partly or in progress, and 11 not implemented. It also presented a bank shareholder transparency rating.

Authorities must review the incentive mechanisms for healthy lending in Moldova's economy

Thursday, 13 April 2017

At a press conference in Chișinău on 13 April, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” called for comprehensive policies to overcome the crisis of confidence between banks and the real economy and to revive bank lending. It presented three policy documents proposing ways to widen firms' access to bank credit.

Moldovan Exports to the EU Trended Upwards in the First Two Years of DCFTA Implementation

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

On 11 April in Chișinău, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” revisited the debated question of how Moldovan exports have evolved since the DCFTA took effect. At a public event, its experts said exports rose 6.9% in 2016 compared with 2014, with EU-bound sales more stable than those to other destinations.

Where Does Corruption in Chișinău Municipality Come From and What Does It Cost Us?

Thursday, 06 April 2017

On 6 April, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” presented a study assessing the impact of corruption on good governance in Chișinău municipality. The experts estimate corruption risks for services provided by the local administration at MDL 111.7 million per year, and identify the main sources of these risks.

The Concession Contract for Exploration Works on 40% of Moldova's Territory: To Be or Not to Be?

Wednesday, 05 April 2017

Experts from the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” called on 5 April, at a press conference, for the suspension of the contract concessioning geological exploration works on 40% of the territory of the Republic of Moldova, and for an assessment of the concession tender.

Selecting schools as beneficiaries of the “My School” initiative for 2017

Friday, 27 January 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has announced a competition to select 20 schools teaching in Romanian or Russian as beneficiaries and partners for the fourth year of the “My School” initiative, which promotes social accountability in Moldova’s education reform. Applications were due by 6 February 2017.

Despite Significant Progress, the Pace of Banking Sector Reforms Must Be Maintained

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” presented a study today at a press conference, “Results of monitoring recent reforms in the financial and banking sector of the Republic of Moldova”. It covers reforms from August to December 2016 and concludes that progress is notable but authorities must not relax.

Announcement on the launch of public consultation on the Study on the nationalisation of the SDGs

Friday, 20 January 2017

The State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova has opened a public consultation on the Study on the nationalisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study was prepared in partnership with the United Nations in the Republic of Moldova and the Independent Think Tank Expert-Grup. Comments are accepted until 30 January 2017.

Electricity interconnection with Romania - higher energy security for Moldova

Thursday, 19 January 2017

The electricity interconnection between the Republic of Moldova and Romania is a viable project and an emergency that would increase Moldova’s energy security, would offer more alternatives to Moldovan consumers and would strengthen the integration of the Moldovan energy system, through the Romanian one, into the European energy system. This is the conclusion of the study developed by Expert-Grup Independent Think Tank and Expert-Forum, Romania, with the financial support of the Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest, launched today during a public event.

“My School”: Communities Contribute to Better Education Results through Participation

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has presented the annual results of the “My School” project, implemented with the Ministry of Education and five regional civil society organisations, with support from the World Bank’s Global Partnership for Social Accountability. Over three years, it engaged about 40,000 people in school budget discussions.

Public Procurement in Vocational Schools in Chișinău: Problems and Solutions

Wednesday, 28 December 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has recently assessed the public procurement process in vocational schools in the municipality of Chișinău. The analysis identified a set of problems, gaps and risks, chiefly stemming from officials’ insufficient knowledge of the existing regulatory framework and from missing key documents in procurement files.

The legislative initiative on tax and capital amnesty carries high risks of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion

Monday, 19 December 2016

The Independent Think Tank "Expert-Grup" and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova launch today, 19 December 2016, a Position Note on the legislative initiative related to tax and capital amnesty. This note is being supported by a group of non-commercial organizations and unaffiliated experts. It comes as a reaction to the approval in the first reading of the draft law on the liberalisation of capital and fiscal incentive (draft law no. 452) and the draft law on amendment of certain legislative acts (draft law no. 451) - both approved in unprecedented haste and with violation of legal norms related to transparency in decision-making and drafting of legislative acts.

The Most Important Public Procurement Problems in Road Works in Chișinău Municipality

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Expert-Grup has published an infographic, “Public procurement problems for roads in Chișinău municipality”, based on monitoring seven road infrastructure projects. It identifies low institutional capacity, integrity problems and weak oversight by the local authorities as the main obstacles to efficient public procurement in the capital's road sector.

Economic recovery of 2016-2017 – a sustainable path or iceberg effect?

Thursday, 08 December 2016

The Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup is launching today, the 8th of December, the 15th edition of the MEGA, entitled "Economic recovery of 2016-2017 – a sustainable path or iceberg effect?". According to the experts, although the economic year 2016 was a more favorable one compared to 2015 and the forecast for 2016-2017 estimates an economic growth of about 3-4%, the competitiveness and sustainability of this growth remain to be the major challenges of the coming year.

New challenges and opportunities of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement

Monday, 28 November 2016

The Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) from Brussels organized the conference "The EU-Moldova Association Agreement – new opportunities and challenges", held on the 28th of November in Chișinău. The conference focused on the major topics of the reform agenda of the Republic of Moldova in the European integration process.

Statement of the Second Meeting of the Domestic Advisory Groups of the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on Trade and Sustainable Development

Sunday, 27 November 2016

The members of the Domestic Advisory Groups of the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on trade and sustainable development held their second annual meeting on 17 October 2016, in line with Chapter 13 on Trade and Sustainable Development of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

Problem Roads: Non-Transparent Procurement and Procedural Violations in Major Road Repairs in Chisinau

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” monitored the public procurement of seven road infrastructure projects in Chisinau, carried out between 2012 and 2016. The projects, covering streets such as A. Russo, Prigoreni and Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard, have a total budget of MDL 437.2 million.

How Much Is Spent on Health Care in the Republic of Moldova?

Thursday, 03 November 2016

A study by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” examines how health care is financed in the Republic of Moldova. It finds that public funding has stayed at 5.1–5.3% of GDP in recent years, while households cover nearly half of all health spending out of their own pockets.

State of the Country Report 2016: the Republic of Moldova is facing a deep systemic crisis, that can be solved only by revolutionizing the governing mechanism

Friday, 30 September 2016

The Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is launching today, the 30th of September, in the framework of the 4th Edition of the Annual International Conference MACRO 2016, the State of the Country Report 2016.

Public Procurement in Education: An Expert-Grup Look into One of the Most Corruption-Sensitive Areas

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has monitored public procurement in Chișinău's education system for 2012–2016. Its report on food supply and repair works in municipal schools and kindergartens identifies collusion between companies, corruption risks on the part of contracting authorities and weaknesses in the legal framework.

Reforms undertaken by the Government under the Roadmap for priority reforms only half implemented

Saturday, 17 September 2016

On 16 September 2016, the ADEPT Association for Participatory Democracy, Expert-Grup and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM) released their final report monitoring the Government's Roadmap for priority reforms. They found that only 55% of the 69 commitments were fulfilled without shortcomings between March and July 2016.

Court of Accounts Reports: Problems in Forest Fund Management, Healthcare and the Financial Management of State Enterprises

Thursday, 25 August 2016

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău analysed Court of Accounts reports on three subjects: the management of the Forest Fund, healthcare, and the financial management of majority state-owned enterprises. Its synthesis concludes that these sectors are managed poorly, without clear performance objectives and indicators.

Consultation on the UN Sustainable Development Goals Continues

Friday, 19 August 2016

The State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova, together with the UN Representation in Moldova and the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, held consultation workshops on the Sustainable Development Goals on 10, 11 and 17 August. They aimed to identify the targets most relevant and important for Moldova.

Bank Shareholder Transparency Rating as of 31 July 2016

Thursday, 04 August 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău has published the second edition of its rating of shareholder transparency in Moldova's commercial banks. The analysis uses information available on the banks' websites as of 31 July 2016, together with other public sources.

Amid first signs of stabilization in Moldova’s banking sector, major risks persist

Thursday, 04 August 2016

Chișinău // The Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup has assessed the main reform actions within Moldova’s financial banking sector during April – July 2016 and noted some signs of improvement. However, experts warn about the still existing shortcomings in transparency and quality of bank shareholders, insufficient intervention tools from the National Bank of Moldova, and the slow progress in investigating the banking fraud and the subsequent return of embezzled funds.

Uncertain Impact of the Reforms Implemented by the Government under the Roadmap

Wednesday, 03 August 2016

The Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM) monitored the 69 actions of the Government's Roadmap for priority reforms in 13 areas, whose implementation deadline expired on 31 July 2016.

4 Things We Learned at Expert-Grup in July

Monday, 01 August 2016

At the end of July, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” published a roundup of the most important topics its experts analysed during the month. They cover a road construction contract in Chișinău, the government's reform agenda, tax administration reform and the economic outlook of the Transnistrian region.

Another Year of Economic Crisis for the Transnistrian Region: A 6% Recession in 2016 (Estimates)

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” estimates that the economy of the Transnistrian region will shrink by about 5-6% in 2016, after a contraction of around 20% in 2015. The estimate appears in the latest issue of the “Regional Economic Review: the Transnistrian Region”, published with EU and UNDP support.

Tax reforms assisted by foreign donors brought additional 2 billion lei in revenues in 2015

Thursday, 07 July 2016

Chișinău // The reforms started by Moldova’s State Fiscal Service in 2014-2015 brought tangible results. Despite economic recession, decline in consumption and macroeconomic instability, these reforms brought 1.8 – 2,3 billion lei in tax revenues to the budget, due to improvements in interaction with taxpayers and reduction of time and costs when paying the taxes. Conclusions belong to a report published by Expert-Grup Think-Tank with the support from Swedish Embassy in Moldova.

How the reforms undertaken by the Government over the past four months have progressed

Wednesday, 06 July 2016

Fewer than one third of the actions the Government planned under its priority reform agenda for March–June 2016 have been fully implemented. This is the finding of an interim monitoring report on the reform roadmap, prepared in Chișinău by ADEPT, the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” and the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (CRJM).

Application for monitoring the Government's priority reforms (March–August 2016)

Tuesday, 05 July 2016

ADEPT, the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (CRJM) and the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” have produced an interactive application tracking the Government's priority reforms between March and August 2016. It was developed as part of their joint monitoring report on the Roadmap for the priority reform agenda.

Results of Monitoring the Construction Contract for Alecu Russo Street in Chișinău

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has analysed the contract for repairing Alecu Russo Street in Chișinău, covering both the tender and the execution of works. Its specialists found major irregularities in the tender, with clear signs of a rigged procurement, as well as flaws in the works themselves.

Economic crisis in the Transnistrian region worsened by political decisions

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

The economic crisis in Transnistria is deepening amid weaker domestic demand, eroding exports and political divisions ahead of the “presidential elections”. The June 2016 edition of Transnistrian Economic Reality, prepared by Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” with EU funding and UNDP implementation, shows the Convergence Indicator falling to 94.8% in Q2 2016.

Expert-Grup Welcomes the Ministry of Environment's Initiative to Ban the Leasing of Forests

Monday, 20 June 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has expressed its support for the Moldovan Government's decision of 15 June 2016 to ban the leasing of the country's forest heritage. The decision follows a Regulation drawn up by the Ministry of Environment, whose provisions match a 2013 Expert-Grup study.

An access road in Chișinău municipality built under suspicious tender-rigging conditions

Thursday, 12 May 2016

Experts at the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” have monitored the construction of the access road to Humulești village in Chișinău municipality. They found numerous irregularities, both at the tender stage and during the works, as well as major risks that the public procurement procedure was rigged.

Defence Spending Has Fallen Sharply in Recent Years

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Expert-Grup has published a new study analysing national defence spending in the Republic of Moldova between 2000 and 2014. It finds that defence financing has not been a national development priority and that allocations have dropped sharply since 2009, leaving Moldova last in Central and Eastern Europe by 2015.

The economic situation in the Transnistrian region is worse than on the right bank of the Dniester

Thursday, 21 April 2016

The economy of the Transnistrian region is deteriorating faster than that of the right bank of the Dniester. The convergence indicator fell to 95.1% in Q1 2016, according to the latest Transnistrian Economic Reality, released by Expert-Grup with support from an EU-funded, UNDP-implemented programme.

Moldova’s economic growth in 2016, affected by the banking fraud (forecast)

Wednesday, 06 April 2016

CHIȘNĂU // Moldova’s economy shrank by only 0.5% in 2015, despite unprecedented internal and external constraints (the result is close to Expert-Grup baseline estimate of -0.8%). For 2016, Expert-Grup forecasts a slight economic recovery of 2.5% - a rate that is three times lower than the level required to catch up with other economies in the region. This is according to the latest issue of the MEGA report that was presented within a public event.

Reforms in the Financial and Banking Sector Have Begun, but Are Progressing Slowly

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” in Chișinău has monitored the latest actions in Moldova's financial and banking sector. It found greater activity by the authorities and the donor community since February 2016, but concluded that reforms with real impact are advancing very slowly and remain insufficient.

Reforming the National Financial Stability Committee Is Crucial to Preventing Potential Financial Crises (Analysis)

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Experts from the German Economic Team and Expert-Grup have analysed the National Financial Stability Committee in Chișinău, the body tasked with coordinating the institutions responsible for financial sector stability. They conclude that serious governance problems, driven by strong political affiliation and an unclear mandate, have made it part of the problem in the banking crisis, and they propose a reform plan.

Citizens can estimate their contributions to the national budget with the Taxpayer Calculator

Wednesday, 09 March 2016

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup”, through its Budgetstories.md portal, is encouraging citizens to use the Taxpayer Calculator. The online tool lets people estimate their contributions to the National Public Budget on the basis of their monthly income and expenses.

Expert-Grup Publishes Rating of Transparency and Quality of Bank Shareholders in Moldova

Thursday, 25 February 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has published a rating of the transparency and quality of shareholders of commercial banks in the Republic of Moldova, based on the situation at 21 March 2016. The analysis draws on information available on the banks' websites and other public sources.

Selecting Schools as Beneficiaries of the “My School” Initiative in 2016

Thursday, 18 February 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has announced a competition to select 20 schools as beneficiaries and partners for the third year of the initiative “My School – social accountability for education reform in the Republic of Moldova”. Applications from interested schools must be submitted by 19 February 2016.

The Economies on Both Banks of the Dniester Are Heading Towards Decline in Tandem

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

The economies on the two banks of the Dniester have grown closer recently as conditions worsened on both sides, though faster in the Transnistrian region than on the right bank. This is the finding of the latest issue of Transnistrian Economic Reality, a journal tracking economic and political developments in eastern Moldova.

Political Instability – the Decisive Factor in the Stagnation of Budget Transparency in Moldova

Monday, 15 February 2016

Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has assessed Moldova’s Budget Transparency Index, calculated from 2013-2014 data using the International Budget Partnership’s Open Budget Index methodology. Moldova scored 59 out of 100 in 2015, unchanged since 2012, indicating that the government gives the public only limited budget information, largely because of political factors.

7 solutions for strengthening the Moldovan banking industry

Monday, 08 February 2016

Chișinău /// The banking crisis, which sent shockwaves in the Moldovan economy in 2015, can be solved by implementing a Roadmap that includes seven urgent measures, implemented both at the level of the regulatory authority and other relevant institutions, and at the level of commercial banks. This action plan will be able to rehabilitate the banking sector and prevent similar crises in the future.

Extending the Iași-Ungheni Gas Pipeline to Chișinău Will Help Ensure Moldova's Energy Independence (Study)

Thursday, 04 February 2016

A study by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” and Expert-Forum (Romania), financed by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bucharest, concludes that extending the Iași-Ungheni gas pipeline to Chișinău, where 50-60% of Moldova's imported gas is consumed, would be a decisive step towards energy independence and reduce dependence on Gazprom.

EU-Moldova energy relations: Similarities and distinctions between the Energy Community Treaty and the Association Agreement

Monday, 01 February 2016

As part of the WEASA 2015 follow-up activity, Denis Cenusa visited Warsaw in November 2015 to research the prospective implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) in Moldova. A policy brief on EU-Moldova energy relations was prepared following the visit.

Expert-Grup to scrutinise how Chișinău City Hall spends public money on street maintenance and construction

Friday, 29 January 2016

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” is launching the project “Transforming Chișinău into a better place to live”. Running from January to September 2016, it aims to make spending on street repair, maintenance and construction in Chișinău more efficient by monitoring and evaluating public authorities' actions throughout the procurement cycle.

What happened in the Moldovan banking sector in 2015 and further risks for 2016

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Last year was a turning one for Moldovan baking system, when systemic weaknesses combined with large-scale fraudulent transactions have triggered an unprecedented banking crisis. As a result, the reduction of deposits attracted and the worsened quality of loan portfolios have caused additional difficulties for the financial institutions.

Moldovan authorities implemented less than a third of the provisions under the EU Association Agreement

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

CHIȘINĂU /// During the last six months, experts from Expert-Grup and ADEPT assessed 407 actions within the Euromonitor report. Out of the total, only 24% were implemented, and 11% were partially implemented. At the same time, over a third of the actions (35%) are under implementation and 29% actions were not realized. Therefore, implementation of the Association Agreement can be assessed as a modest one for the monitored period.

Irregularities of MDL 2 billion identified by the Court of Accounts in the first half of 2015

Friday, 18 December 2015

The Court of Accounts of Moldova estimated irregularities exceeding MDL 2 billion in the first half of 2015, according to a synthesis report published by Expert-Grup in Chișinău. The audits revealed technical and operational problems in public institutions, as well as gaps in the legislative framework.

The economy will end 2015 in a 0.8% recession, while a deep restructuring of the economic model is needed

Thursday, 17 December 2015

The Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” has published its MEGA (Moldovan Economic Growth Analysis) report for Q4 2015 in Chișinău. It estimates that Moldova's economy will contract by 0.8% in 2015, after the economic risks identified earlier in the year materialised, and expects a slow recovery in 2016.

The Transnistrian Region Hit by an Unprecedented Economic Crisis

Thursday, 10 December 2015

A study published by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” finds that the Transnistrian region is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Regional GDP could contract by about 10-12% this year, driven by unfavourable conditions on the right bank of the Dniester, instability in Ukraine, recession in Russia and weaker demand in the EU.