MA ACRO: what w is it about? O stands for “M Moldova: Asseessing Countrry Risks and Opportunities O ”. MACRO hass been conceived as an MACRO annual event bringing together doomestic and innternational policy p experts and thinkers with the key purpose of discusssing and advaancing innovattive ideas to ssupport Moldoova along its way of econoomic developm ment and modernnization. The annnual Conferennce offers a high-level intel lectual platform to dissect the factors innfluencing Mooldova’s attractiveness as destination for international iinvestments, new ideas and advanced teechnologies, to assess the couuntry’s risks thhat need to bee alleviated too make Moldoova a better place for humaan well-being and a econom mic development. Each eddition of MACRO has a uniqquely tailored topic. The firrst edition of MACRO M was hhosted in 20133, and it coveredd the topic: “M MACRO 2013: A Global lookk at Moldova’ss economy”. In the ccontext of advvancing on thee European inntegration ageenda by signin ng the Associaation Agreem ment with the EU in July 2014, the 2014 edittion of MACRO O is going to focus f on wayss to make thee European inttegration work foor the people. It will bring too discussion tthe key opporrtunities and challenges c of the Association Agreem ment with the EU on differennt categories of populationn: employees, employers, faarmers, youthh, civil society, the poor etc.
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Gooals of the Connferencce The MA ACRO Annual International Conference w will not be appproached as a stand-alone event, but ratther as a logical component of o the “Moldovva 2014: Statee of the Counttry Report” pro ocess. MACR O will serve as a nationwide plaatform for public debates among a autho rities, local buusinesses, civvil society andd international commuunity in elaborration of policcies and prioriitization of thee key public sectors, whichh need assistaance for further developmentt. The goaal of the 2nd edition of MAC CRO Annual Innternational Conference is to t discuss thee key econom mic and social cchallenges and opportunitiees of the receently signed Association A Ag greement withh the Europeaan Union. The “Mooldova 2014 State S of the Country Reporrt” findings will provide inteellectual stirrinng and analyttical supportt for the discuussions. Confereence will focus on the following issues:
ngthening thee economic development Discuss thee implementattion progresss of the Roadmap for stren and social cohesion, concluded at the last yeaar conference “MACRO 22013”: spottinng the key successes and a failures.
What are thhe key challenges related too the implemeentation of the Associationn Agreement with w the EU, as perceivedd by the privaate sector, cenntral and local authorities and a the civil ssociety?
What could be the impact of trade libberalisation on o income disstribution? Hoow will advancing on the association agenda with the EU affectt the poor?
How to enssure proper incentives forr politicians for f promoting g structural rreforms and make them accountablee for their actions?
What are thhe causes of rising EU sceppticism in Molldova and how w to consolidaate the conseensus about the country’s strategic deevelopment ppath?
How can thhe implementtation of the Association Agreement A leead to strong er social cohhesion amid rising EU-sccepticism?
How can thhe implementtation of the Association Agreement A ta ackle the miggration probleem? Are the risks of incrreasing emigration well-groounded?
Special issuue: how sustaainable is thee pension system of Moldo ova amid poppulation ageinng and high shares of migration m and informal econnomy? What could be the right policy ooptions for inccreasing the robustness of the pensioon system?
Discusssions and presentations will be includedd in the Conference proceed dings and com mmunicated to t the relevant policy authoorities. A Roaddmap will be ccompiled in reesult of the discussions to guide the nattional authoritties and other stakeholderss on how to aalleviate the keey country risks and how too harness thee opportuunities. The Roadmap implementation aassessment will w serve as sttarting point ffor the next MACRO 2015 Confereence
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AG ENDA
Eveent ageenda
08:30
Registrationn, welcome coffee
09:00
Opening. Weelcome address on behalf of tthe organizers Matthias JO OBELIUS, Repreesentative, Frieddrich-Ebert-Stifftung in Moldova and Roman ia
09:10
Key messagges of the Statee of the Countryy Report 2014 Adrian LUPU UȘOR, Executivve Director, Indeependent Thinkk-Tank EXPERT T-GRUP
09:40
PANEL 1: Key K social andd economic im mplications off the Associattion Agreemennt with the EU U Moderator: George G TEODORESCU, Managging Attorney, Vernon V and Davvid o Economic Coooperation and Sectoral Coord dination Unit, G General Directoorate for Tatiana MOLLCEAN, Head of European Inntegration, Ministry of Foreignn Affairs and Euuropean Integra ation of Moldovva What are thee real benefits of o the Associatiion Agreement with EU? The reeality of the firsst days of implementation Cristian GHINEA, Director, Romanian Cenntre for European Policies p for rurall development Export of Mooldova’s agriculltural products to the EU – thee need for real policies Dona ȘCOLA A, Executive Dirrector, Moldovaan Investment and Export Pro omotion Organ ization (MIEPO O) DCFTA oppoortunities: how can c we benefit?? David DALTON, Macro-ecoonomist on Easstern Europe, Thhe Economist Intelligence Un it ion so far? What can Mooldova learn froom EU integratio Key questions: q
11:00
f the implemeentation of the Association In whatt key areas shoould Republic oof Moldova register progress for Agreem ment with EU? How caan Moldova reaap the benefits of trade liberallization with EU U, despite poor international compettitiveness? What iss the estimatedd economic andd social impactt of the Associa ation Agreeme nt with EU? Who arre going to be the key winnerss and losers in the process of implementing the Associatioon Agreement with EU U? Findingg the right placee in the regionaal context: whaat could be the potential sectoors and niches where Moldovva could win w the internattional competittion?
Coffee breakk
Octoberr 21st 2014, Leogrand, Chișinău
11:15
PANEL 2: Political P econoomy of reform ms: how to maake long-term strategies woork? N MORAR RI, Journalist, FFounder, Media Sapens Moderator: Natalia Constanța POPESCU, P Proggram Director, I ndependent Thhink-Tank EXPE ERT-GRUP Reforms in electoral e cycles: moving beyonnd the Associatiion Agreement Valeriu LAZĂ ĂR, President, Chamber C of Coommerce and Inndustry of Mold dova Moldova in the t new geo-ecoonomic reality. Perspectives of DCFTA with th he EU and Turke key Mircea GEOA ANĂ, Presidentt, Aspen Instituute Romania A 360° analyysis of Moldova’s economy Victor LUTENCO, Director, Bureau for Diaaspora Relationns u devvelopment oppoortunity for Molddova The largest unexplored Key questions: q
ment to action under the Association Agree ment with the EU? How too move from poolitical commitm What iss the impact off the electoral ccycles on the activity of publicc institutions a nd the entire economy? How too achieve politiccal accountabi lity for the policy actions and reforms? How traansparent are the t public insti tutions and whhat is the qualitty of public debbates over the key reforms? What iss needed in ordder to achieve ppolitical commitment for a sustainable deveelopment agendda?
12:35
Break for buuffet lunch
13:30
Panel 3: Thhe pension sysstem of the R Republic of Mooldova: who will w pay the billls for the lackk of reforms? V BOTNAR RU, Director, Raadio Free Europpe Moderator: Vasile Adrian LUPU UȘOR, Executivve Director, EXPPERT-GRUP New solutionns to an old problem: how can we reform Molddova’s pension system? Laura GRECU, Head of Deppartment, Polic ies and Social Insurance Department, Ministtry of Labour, Social S a Family Protection and Social insuraance system in the Republic off Moldova: challlenges and wayys to overcome them Oleg VEREJA AN, President, Association A of Actuaries of Moldova M The future off pensions in Moldova: M realitiess and perspectiives Jörg RADEK KE, Consultant, German Econoomic Team Moldova Proposal for Reforming the Pension System m Key questions: q
The pennsion systems are under presssure all over thhe world. Why is the situationn much more crritical in Moldovva? How too consolidate thhe sustainabilitty of the pensioon system, giveen the issues off population aggeing, migration and informal employm ment? ar pension systeem, based on the t internationaal What are the challengges for implemeenting a functional multi-pilla experieence? What iss the cost of the pension systtem reform com mpared to the cost c for mainlinning the currennt system?
14:50
Roadmap foor next steps too be taken Adrian LUPU UȘOR, Executivve Director, Indeependent Thinkk-Tank EXPERT T-GRUP
15:10
Concluding remarks Ana MIHAILLOV, Programm me Coordinator, Friedrich-Eberrt-Stiftung Mold dova
15:30
Reception
Octoberr 21st 2014, Leogrand, Chișinău
P Panel 1
Keey social an nd econom mic implicattions of thee Association Agreem ment with the t EU
Moderator: Georrge Teodorrescu, Managing Attoorney, Vernon David
In w what key areass should Repubblic of Moldova register progreess for the imp plementation off the Associatioon Agreement with the t EU?
pite poor internaational Hoow can Moldovaa reap the beneefits of trade libberalization witth the EU, desp mpetitiveness?? com
Whhat is the estim mated economicc and social im mpact of the Association Agreement with thee EU? Whho are going to be the key winnners and loserrs in the processs of implemen nting the Assocciation Agreement with thee EU?
Finnding the right place in the reggional context: what could bee the potential sectors s and nicches where Moldova couuld win the inteernational competition?
TTatiana Molcean M
Tiitle: What arre the real beenefits of thhe Associatio on Aggreement with the EU? The T reality oof the first days of im mplementation (Romaniaan) Taatiana Molcean works w with the Ministry of Foreignn Affairs and Eurropean Inttegration since 2004, 2 holding varrious positions w within the Europeean Inttegration Department, mainly dea aling with trade aand sector cooperation witth EU and more recently with EU assistance proggrammes for Cappacity Buuilding. During 2008-2011 she wa as Counselor andd then Charge d’’Affaires in Mooldova‘s Embasssy in Sweden, alsso during the couuntry’s EU Presiddency. Ass part of her workk, Tatiana Molcean participated i n Association Aggreement ne gotiations, particcularly the DCFT TA part, as well aas in the processs of preeparing the Natioonal Action Plan for the implemeentation of the Agreement forr 2014-2016.
C Cristian Ghinea G
Tiitle: Export of o Moldova’ss agriculturaal products to t the EU U – the needd for real policies for rurral developm ment (R Romanian) Aftter eight years of writing for the Romanian mediaa, Cristian Ghinea went abbroad in 2007 – 2008 2 to study EU U Governance at the London School of Ecconomics. He is a columnist for “Dilema Veche” nnewspaper and iss actively preesent in Romania’s press and TV V. He was previouusly involved in civic c proojects with the Romanian R Academic Society. Mr.. Ghinea has writtten ch apters on Romania in prestigious international reeports such as “Media Suustainability Indeex” and “Nations in Transit”. In 20009 he founded, with w a teaam of colleaguess and friends, thee Romanian Centter for Europeann Policies, whhich quickly becoome one of the most m dynamic th ink-tanks on Eurropean inttegration from Eaastern Europe. CRPE C recently oppened an office inn Chisinau, as a working point for Europeaniza ation projects whhich involve Molddova.
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Dona Școla Ș
Tiitle: DCFTA opportunitie o es: how can we benefit? Romanian) (R Doona Scola holds about a twenty yea ars of manageriaal experience in the t field of co mmunications and a IT. She has lead one of the ppioneering ISPs in Moldova co ntributing to Inteernet developmeent and broadbannd deployment inn the co untry. Dona Scoola worked as a consultant c for seeveral ICT sectorr de velopment projeects financed by World Bank, USAAID, Soros Founddation and othher partners. Shhe has extensive experience in facilitative manag ement, project and a buusiness developm ment and holds MBA M degree from m Grenoble Graduuate Scchool of Businesss and Bachelor’s degree in system m engineering frrom Teechnical University of Moldova. Dona Scola previoously served as Vice V Mi nister of Informaation Technologies and Communnications.
David Dalton D
Tiitle: What caan Moldova learn from EEU integratio on so faar? (English) Daavid Dalton is a macro-economist m t and editor at thhe Economist Inttelligence Unnit, where he is reesponsible for prroducing news annalysis, and polittical and ecoonomic forecastts, for a number of countries in thhe former Soviett Union (m mostly the Europeean CIS and Centtral Asia). He hass been covering Moldova forr about four yearrs. His degrees are in Economic aand Social Studies from Maanchester Univerrsity and Transition Economics ffrom the University of Lo ndon's School of Slavonic and East European Sttudies (SSEES).
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Poolitical econ nomy of reeforms: how w to make
P Panel 2
lonng-term strrategies woork?
Moderator: Nataalia Morari, journalist, Media Sappiens founder
Hoow to move from m political com mmitment to acction under the Association Ag greement with the EU?
p institutions and the ent ire economy? Whhat is the impacct of the electooral cycles on t he activity of public
Hoow to achieve political p accounntability for the policy actions and reforms?
q of publicc debates over the key reform ms? Hoow transparent are the public institutions an d what is the quality
d a genda?? Whhat is needed inn order to achieeve political co mmitment for a sustainable development
Coonstanța Popescu u
Tiitle: Reformss in electora al cycles: mooving beyond the Asssociation Agreement A (R Romanian) Coonstanta Popescu is Program Director for “Politiccal Economy andd Addvocacy” at the Inndependent Thin nk Tank “Expert-G Grup” and has prractical an d academic background in reforms and econom mics of transition.. Her reccent role in Goveernment included d work as Econom mic Adviser to thhe PrimeMi nister in 2011-20012, as well as work w with the Minnistry of Econom my on preeparing for the DCFTA D negotiatio ons, and earlier aactivity on European Inttegration program ms at the British Embassy in Chiisinau. Her educaation inccludes an MA in Political Econom my gained in 20033 in UK (UCL / SSEES) and furrther post-graduate studies in Deemocracy and Puublic Policy (LSE E).
Valeriu Lazăr
TTitle: Moldovva in the new w geo-econoomic reality. P Perspectivess of DCFTA with w the EU and Turkey ((Romanian) VValeriu Lazar atteended the State Agrarian Universsity of Moldova, graduating w with diploma of mechanical m engin neer. Between 19995-1997 he purrsued a nnumber of internships abroad, inccluding the Interrnational Institute of Public AAdministration (P Paris, France) and European Inst itute of Public AAdministration (B Bruges, Belgium)). H He worked in the Ministry of Foreeign Economic RRelations of the Republic R of M Moldova since 19994, in the National Agency for FForeign Investmeents PPromotion, advanncing from coord dinator specialisst, to the counselor of the M Minister, Deputy Minister and Min nister in 2005-20006, 2009-2010 and a 2010 t o 2014.
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Mircea Geoană G
Tiitle: A 360° analysis a of Moldova’s M ecconomy Romanian) (R Mi rcea Geoana is senator s for Dolj, the President of the Joint Speciaal Coommission of Deputies Chamber and Senate for RRomania's joininng of Scchengen space and a prominent political p figure inn Romania. Sincee February 20014, Mircea Geoaana is the High Representative off Romanian Goveernment forr Strategic Econoomic Projects an nd Public Diplom macy. Preevious to his political career, Mircea Geoana hadd a successful diplomatic acttivity. Ha was apppointed as the Ambassador A Extrraordinary and Pleenipotentiary of Romania to the United States off America at age of 37. Froom 2000 to 20044, Mircea Geoana a served as Minisster of Foreign Affairs A of Roomania. Mi rcea Geoana is an a expert on European and Transs-atlantic integraation. In 19992 he graduatedd from “Ecole Nationale d’Adminiistration” in Pariss, France. In 1994 he was a NATO N fellow on democratic d instittutions.
Victor Luutenco
Tiitle: The larggest unexplo ored developpment opporrtunity foor Moldova (Romanian) Vicctor Lutenco is the Head of the Diaspora D Relationns Bureau (BRD) of the Staate Chancellery, which aims at coordinating the G Government’s poolicies reggarding the diasppora. Thhe BRD team is working w on chang ging the paradigm ms of the countrry's de velopment and of o the collaboration with its citizeens abroad. Vicctor Lutenco gained a solid experience in the fieldd of social development an d migration working for the Interrnational Organizzation for Migrattion, the Unnited Nations Poppulation Fund an nd as the advisorr to the Prime Minister on so cial policy and development.
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Thhe pension system of the Repubblic of
P Panel 3
Mooldova: who will pay tthe bills for the lack of reforms?
Moderator: Vasile Botnaru, journalistt, Radio Freee Europe
Thee pension systeems are under pressure all ovver the world. Why W is the situa ation much moore critical in Moldova?
Hoow to consolidaate the sustainaability of the peension system, given the issues of populatioon ageing, migrration and ment? infoormal employm
Whhat are the challenges for impplementing a fuunctional multi--pillar pension system, based on the international expperience?
Whhat is the cost of o the pension system reform m compared to the t cost for ma ainlining the cuurrent system?
Adrian Lupușor
Tiitle: New sollutions to an n old problem m: how can we reeform Moldoova’s pension n system? (RRomanian) Addrian Lupusor, Exxecutive Director of the EXPERT- GRUP has been with the orgganization since 2009. His areas of research are:: economic policcies, moonetary policy, innflation, banking sector and the ppensions system m. He has a maaster degree in economics e and finance from the Charles Universiity in Praague and is currently a PhD stud dent at the same institution. Adrian has alsso a master degrree in financial and banking adm inistration from the Accademy of Econoomic Studies of Moldova. M
Laura Grecu G
Tittle: Social innsurance sysstem in the Republic of Mooldova: challlenges and ways to oveercome them m Lauura Grecu is thhe Head of Department, Policcies and Social Insurance Deppartment, Ministtry of Labor, Social Protection annd Family (since 2008). Shee participated in negotiating bila ateral agreementt for projects in the area of soccial insurance with 13 member states s of the Eurropean Union. Laura Grecu hass been with the Ministry of Lab bor since 1999 aand has obtaineed an large expperience in policcies of ensuring gender equalityy, violence prevention and fam mily policies. Being responsible for coordinaating the develoopment of straategies and legisslation in social insurance area, LLaura Grecu conntributed to thee 7th chapter from the 2012-2020 0 National Devel opment Strategyy.
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Oleg Veerejan
Tiitle: The futuure of pensio ons in Moldoova: realitiess and peerspectives (Romanian) Oleeg Verejan holdss the position of the t President of the Actuarial Asssociation of Moldova since 2006. 2 He is PhD in the economic statistics field and a has a maaster degree in Actuarial A and riskk in business. Hee is member of thhe council of exp perts and membeer of the certificaation co mmission of audditors and actuaries, both at the National Commiission of thee Financial Markket of Republic off Moldova. More than 10 years he works as an actuary and ecoonomic and finan ncial analyst at tthe international insurance co mpany. S 2014 he held the posi tion of Head of Corporate C Sinnce 2008 up to September Invvestment Departtment and Manager of investmennt projects (privaate pe nsion) of Moldovva-Agroindbank. In the same tim me, he was expertts in proojects of the finaancial sector refo orm at World Bannk. He hold certificates as acttuary and speciaalist in securitiess in the capital m market. Areas of sp ecialization and research are: acctuarial, risk mannagement, insuraance, invvestment, privatee pensions, statisstics, financial foorecasting.
Jörg Raadeke
Tiitle: Proposaal for Reform ming the Pennsion System m (EEnglish) Jöörg Radeke is thee Coordinator of the t German Econnomic Team (GE ET) in Mooldova. GET Molddova provides ecconomic policy aadvice to the Moldovan goovernment on behalf of the German Ministry for thhe Economy. Mrr. Radeke’s areass of expertise lie in economic imppact assessments, trade poolicy and social security system reform. At the beeginning of this year y coo proposa als for the reform m of Moldova’s pension au thored a study outlining sysstem. Hee is also a member of the German n Advisory Groupp in Ukraine.
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Orrganizeers WHO WEE ARE Expert-G Grup is a leadinng think tank froom the Republ ic of Moldova. A not-for-profitt organization sspecialized in economic e and policy research. Ass independent organization, EExpert-Grup refflects the idealss of the young intellectuals from Moldova who havve created the institution withh the purpose oof contributing with innovativee solutions to tthe country's development. Among oother types of organizations in the civil sociiety of Moldovaa, Expert-Grup positions p itselff as a politicallyy and ideologically neutral thhink-tank and itt does not repreesent any econnomic, corporatte or political innterests. OUR ACTTIVITIES Our coree activity is ecconomic analysis, forecast aand policy reseearch. In this area, a we offer a wide range of analytical productss and services helping our beeneficiaries to take decisionss supporting th he developmennt path of Molddova. Our key competeence lies in thee ability to provide professionaal, high-quality and objective research in succh broad fieldss as:
Macroeconomic analysis annd forecast; Political econnomy; Public financce; Human development and poverty reductioon; mers’ behaviourr; Labour markket and consum Foreign tradee; Financial maarkets; Economics of o European integration; Sector-level economic e analysis; Regional andd local economic developmennt; Energy and environmental e economics. e
PARTNEERS AND DONO ORS In the last 8 years has implemented more m than 50 r esearch and addvocacy projeccts in different aareas related to economic and policy research. More M than 100 associated a and non-associateed experts from m Moldova and other countries were involvedd in these projeects. We have worked w with succh donors as thhe World Bank Group, Moldovva Soros Founddation, Eastern European Foundation, Konrad Adenauer St iftung, Balkan Trust T for Demo ocracy, Black SSea Trust, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, UNDP Moldovva, UNICEF, Eurropean Commi ssion, Council of Europe, Opeen Society Founndation, Swiss Agency for International Cooperattion, United Kingdom Departm ment for Internaational Develop pment. In 20100 and 2012 the Expert-Grup was eleccted member of o the National Participatory CCouncil of Molddova. Since 200 08 the Expert-G Grup is member of the Policy A Association for an Open Society – a networkk of policy centeers uniting 56 think t tanks from m countries accross Europe.
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Orrganizeers n which aims aat promoting deemocracy, Friedrichh-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is a Geerman political social-democratic foundation peace, innternational unnderstanding and cooperationn. FES fulfils itss mandate in th he spirit of sociial democracy and devotes itself to public debatess finding social-democratic soolutions to currrent and future issues of the ssociety. FES IN M MOLDOVA In the Reepublic of Molddova, FES aimss at fostering EEuropean integrration, democra acy, peace andd social justice through political dialogue, educcation and reseearch. Our mainn areas of activvity are the follo owing: DEMOCR RATIZATION AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATIO ON Moldovaa faces the chaallenge of consolidating its deemocratic instittutions and devveloping a dem mocratic culturee that brings the counntry fully in linee with standardds of the Europ ean Union. FES S contributes to o this process by promoting political p participaation in civil soociety organizattions, political parties and loccal self-governing bodies. A paarticular focus of FES activities in this area iss on empowerinng citizens in t he regions. Citizens need to be b empowered to be able to critically m politicaal stakeholders,, articulate their views, and acct on behalf of their interests.. Therefore follow public debate, monitor FES hass engaged activvities to promote participatoryy democracy and an enhanceed citizens’ civicc and political culture on the local level. EUROPEEAN INTEGRATTION Moldovaa is part of the European Neigghbourhood Poolicy and the Eaastern Partnersship. FES suppoorts the Europeean Integration Process of the country. Through a seriess of instruments such as radio debates, new ws bulletins, poolicy papers, main challengess related to thee European Inteegration processs, publicattions and confeerences FES focuses on the m facilitatiing the access of the public too up-to-date annd reliable inforrmation on the topic, improvinng the dialoguee between the civil society and deecision makers on the requireements for succcessful European Integration,, and contributing to strengthhening the Euroopean integration efforts of M Moldovan authoorities. Addition nally, FES suppports non-goverrnmental organizaations in contributing to a peaaceful resolutioon of the Transsnistrian conflicct as a prerequ isite for successsful Europeaan Integration in the long-run. ECONOM MIC, SOCIAL AN ND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYY In this area the FES suupports its partners in developping and implem menting policiees for a functiooning market ecconomy s balanceed and able to aaddress the neeeds of all citizeens. Input and projects in the area focus which iss sustainable, socially on topiccs such as reforming social seecurity systemss, improving working conditio ons and labour market opporttunities and fosteringg sustainable development. d Additionally, A FEES runs program ms which aim at a promoting S ocial Democratic values.
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Soccial meedia Pleasee take a moment to express e youur opinion about the ideas discuussed at MACRO M 2014 and ask quuestions foor our spea kers, by ussing the hashtag beloow, usable both on Twitteer and Faceebook:
#m macrro20 014cconfeerennce Since our missioon involvess promotingg ideas andd philosophies that aaim to bringg a better futuree for Moldoova, we believe in the power of social s media to fosterr the changge.
w Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldoova on: Follow
w the Indeppendet Thinnk Tank Exxpert-Grup on: Follow
Friedrich Ebertt Stiftung Moldova M @F FESonline
Expert-Grrup @Expert__Grup
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