In 2024, there were slight improvements in the operating environment of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Republic of Moldova, but the overall situation did not change significantly. The most important progress was made in the area of the right to participate in decision-making, with changes at the legislative and practical levels. Positive developments were also recorded in the legislation regarding state-CSO cooperation and digital rights. The freedom of assembly benefited from the end of the state of emergency and the lifting of previous restrictions; however, in practice, there were incidents of unwarranted interventions by law enforcement forces at a number of peaceful assemblies. These are the main conclusions of the 2024 CSO Meter Moldova Country Report, presented today by the Promo-LEX Association during a public event.
“There are over 13 thousand civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova. Throughout 2024, most of the positive changes in the operating environment of civil society organizations were the result of public institutions opening up and efforts to align with EU standards. Although progress was made, it was slow and resulted in few noticeable improvements for CSOs. Civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova continue to face difficulties in practical participation in decision-making processes, de facto cooperation with the state, accessing alternative funding sources, insufficient protection of privacy, and ensuring the protection of digital rights,” said Florin Gîscă, the author of the report and expert at the Promo-LEX Association.
“Civil society organizations are the driving force behind societal transformation, and I am very impressed by the expertise and work being done by organizations in the Republic of Moldova. In this regard, CSO Meter is a useful tool that shows how the operating environment of CSOs functions and provides clear recommendations for improvement. Overall, we find that CSOs in Moldova operate in a broadly favorable environment. At the same time, more effort is needed to increase CSO participation in decision-making processes at all levels,” said Mate Csicsai, Head of Political Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.
The report’s recommendations for improving the CSO environment focus on the need for authorities to facilitate access to alternative funding sources, including by increasing tax benefits for philanthropic donations and sponsorships, contracting social services, improving the framework for social entrepreneurship, and expanding the coverage of the percentage designation mechanism. They also call for improving transparency and practical CSO participation in decision-making; adopting and applying non-violent, non-invasive, and dialogue-based operational procedures for peaceful assemblies, including critical and anti-government protests; finalizing and implementing the new State Register of legal entities, which would simplify the registration process for CSOs, including the development of an online registration procedure.
It is important to note that out of the 54 recommendations made in the CSO Meter report from the previous year (2023), 10 recommendations have been initiated or partially implemented, including a functional accreditation system for social service providers, the adoption of a police regulation for preventing and sanctioning hate speech, the initiation of a draft law on volunteering, the introduction of a new law on access to information, and the initiation of a risk assessment on terrorism financing for non-profit organizations, with CSO participation.
We remind you that the CSO Meter Report is an annual edition that reflects key developments in the civil society environment in the Republic of Moldova, based on 32 international standards in the field, grouped into 11 key areas. The methodology for preparing the report is based on an extensive consultation process. The report was developed with the involvement and contribution of forty representatives from civil society organizations and central public authorities in the Republic of Moldova.
The preliminary version of the report can be accessed here.
The event was organised within the framework of the Action “CSO Meter: Empowered for Action”, implemented with the financial support of the European Union. The Project is implemented by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) and its partners: Transparency International Anticorruption Center in Armenia; MG Consulting LLC in Azerbaijan; Civil Society Institute in Georgia; Promo-LEX Association in Moldova; and ISAR Ednannia in Ukraine. The event is co-financed by the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.