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The European Union has abandoned the Republic of Moldova, Romania has doubled its energy tariff, and the anti-Russian policy of the government in Chisinau has triggered deep crises, baltnews.com writes. In reality, the West is the biggest financial supporter of the Republic of Moldova, which is affected by the crisis just like the rest of the countries in the region.
NEWS: “The united European Union started to fall apart with the arrival of cold weather: the economic giants who until recently would invite the Republic of Moldova into their special, honest and open family, have now forgotten about one of the poorest countries in Europe.
Neighboring Romania turned a blind eye to all principles and has announced that, from now on, it will deliver electricity to Moldova at a double rate of 1.428 euros for one MW/h.
The anti-Russian policy of the ruling party in Chisinau led to economic and social crises. As is known, the current government has its sights set on the West”.
NARRATIVES: 1. The European Union (the West) has abandoned the Republic of Moldova. 2. Romania has doubled the tariff for the energy it gives to the Republic of Moldova. 3. The crises facing the Republic of Moldova are caused by the incorrect decision to go for the pro-European vector. 4. The government in Chisinau is Russophobic.
CONTEXT/LOCAL ETHOS: The Republic of Moldova is the country in the region most affected by the economic crisis and the consequences of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Annual inflation has exceeded 34%, and in addition to the fact that energy resources have become enormously expensive, the uncertainty of gas provision in the cold season persists, given that the authorities in Chisinau have not yet reached a common denominator with Gazprom regarding a claimed debt of over 700 million dollars.
Meanwhile, in Chisinau, the opposition organizes protest actions more and more frequently, the old topics related to the foreign policy vector - towards the EU, or towards the East - being resumed.
PURPOSE: To portray the West as a disloyal partner and diminish citizens' trust in the EU and Western institutions. To present the government in Chisinau as Russophobic and guilty of the crises the country is facing.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: EU member states and international organizations stepped up efforts to support Moldova shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine was started. Romania, Germany and France launched the so-called Support Platform for Moldova, inaugurated in Berlin, on April 5, where a support budget for the Republic of Moldova in the amount of 660 million euros was announced.
In early August, the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, released the first installment of 50 million euros from the macro-financial assistance package (MAF) for the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the European Union offers 35 million euros in long-term loans under preferential conditions and 15 million euros in the form of grants. This is the first tranche of macro-financial assistance for the Republic of Moldova, which entered into force on July 18, 2022 and will be provided in three tranches over the next two and a half years. The macro-financial assistance is part of a larger support from the EU and international donors, offered through the Inter-ministerial Support Platform, initiated in Berlin on April 5, 2022, to help the Republic of Moldova overcome the multiple crises it is faced with.
Romania did not double the tariff for the energy supplied to the Republic of Moldova, as baltnews writes, for the very simple reason that it does not supply electricity to the Republic of Moldova at all. Romania has doubled the energy transit tariff, in accordance with the EU rules , applicable to non-EU member states, in this case the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which have joined the ENTSO-E system.
However, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine are discussing with the European authorities their integration into the EU mechanism for compensating the costs of hosting cross-border electricity flows, so that the user fee currently applied to them is eliminated.
Inflation started to rise globally from the second half of 2021 as a result of economic recovery from the previous year's pandemic crisis and increased demand for raw materials and services.
In the Republic of Moldova, the highest price increase in the region is recorded due to the excessive dependence on Russian gas and energy products in general (the Republic of Moldova imports all the fuel and gas it needs and produces a small share of green energy, and the rest of the electricity needed is imported or produced from imported resources).
Another factor that has led to excessive price increases is the high dependence on transport routes in Ukraine, especially the port of Odessa, which is blocked because of the Russian military intervention.
Also, this year's drought, together with the increase in fuel prices, has triggered an increase in the prices of food products, especially vegetables.
It is true that the Republic of Moldova also faces its own internal dysfunctions such as monopolies, a large number of intermediaries, expensive loans, problems that have accumulated over the years, etc., which also influence the increase in prices.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: The Republic of Moldova is facing a deep economic crisis.
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