Press Review: Moldova's Farmers Protest New Circular, Country Faces Infrastructure and Unemployment Challenges
Farmers in Moldova are protesting a new circular from the Ministry of Agriculture that would require them to provide proof of ownership or possession of land affected by natural disasters in order to receive subsidies. The circular has been met with criticism from farmers, who say it is too bureaucratic and will make it more difficult for them to access subsidies.
In a report, TVR Moldova found that Moldova's infrastructure is underdeveloped, despite the country's aspirations to join the European Union. The report found that the country has some of the worst roads in Europe, and that many villages lack access to clean water, sewage, and other basic services.
The Union of Lawyers has issued a negative opinion on a bill that would create a special court to prosecute corruption cases. The union argues that the bill is unnecessary and would be redundant with existing judicial institutions. The union also criticises the bill for being too narrow in its scope, as it would only cover a small number of offences.
The Minister of Economy, Dumitru Alaiba, has announced that he plans to close the "Șor stores" at the Chisinau airport. The stores are owned by the former mayor of Orhei, Ilan Șor, who is currently wanted by Moldovan authorities on corruption charges. Șor's company has denied any wrongdoing and says it is operating the stores legally.
A report by deschide.md found that over 50 cases of illegal activity have been recorded at "Merișor" social stores, which are affiliated with the Șor Party. The stores have been accused of selling expired food, cheating customers, and not providing receipts.
In an article in Literatura și Arta, Alecu Reniță argues that the war in Ukraine has shown how vulnerable the Black Sea region is. He says that Moldova is not capable of defending itself and that the country should join NATO and Romania.
A report by TV Nord in Bălți found that unemployment is high in the northern regions of Moldova. In the first seven months of 2023, only 120 people were hired in Drochia, a county in the north. The head of the local employment agency says that there are not enough investments or jobs in the region.
Finally, nordnews.md reports that a 10-year-old waste management strategy for Moldova has not been implemented. The strategy calls for the creation of eight waste management regions, but only two of these regions have been completed. The government says that the remaining regions will be built by 2025.
