The “Construim înCREDere” (Building Trust) Movement: European integration risks losing public support
The “Construim înCREDere” Civic Movement has been launched, a platform that aims to transform European integration into a genuine national project supported by citizens, not merely a political tool.
The initiative brings together experts and activists from Moldova and the diaspora and aims to increase government transparency, public accountability, and strengthen support for Moldova’s European path.
The launch took place during a roundtable discussion on EU accession, where experts warned of a major risk: declining public support for European integration, amid excessive politicization and a lack of tangible results felt by citizens.
The event was attended by experts from Moldova and abroad, including Igor Boțan, executive director of ADEPT, Ina Vîrtosu, research scientist; Doru Petruti, sociologist and director of IMAS; Octavian Calmîc, former Minister of Economy; Veaceslav Ioniță, economic expert at IDIS Viitorul; Nicolae Eșanu, former Deputy Minister of Justice; Alexandru Solcan, dean of the Faculty of International Relations at USM; and others.
Olesea Stamate emphasized that reforms are not sufficiently reflected in people’s lives, and this can affect perceptions of European integration. In the absence of concrete benefits, citizens may lose confidence in this path.
The experts also highlighted the authorities’ communication issues, as well as the need for genuine dialogue between the government, civil society, and pro-European forces. At the same time, attention was drawn to the risk of a divided society, in which integration is perceived as a project of the elite, not of the entire population.
Among the proposed solutions are: depoliticizing the pro-European message, increasing transparency in the negotiation process, clearly explaining the costs and benefits, and genuinely involving citizens in the decision-making process.
Chișinău, March 24, 2026