The impact of corruption on the European integration process of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Since 1996, the central authorities of the Republic of Moldova have recognized the existence of corruption problem in the country, formally approving a legal framework aimed at combating this problem. Since then, despite many efforts and reforms, corruption in the Republic of Moldova has become widespread, acquiring certain endemic characteristics. At the same time, by signing the Association Agreement, the Republic of Moldova has made important commitments, which, among other things, provide for the fight against corruption. The last one has become an indispensable condition for providing financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova from the European Union. In order to carry out the request, policy documents related to fight against corruption, reports related to their fulfillment, as well as opinions of experts presented in various forms were examined. The purpose of the research was to determine the state of affairs and determine the extent to which corruption has become a fundamental brake on the process of European integration of the Republic of Moldova. As a result, it was found that the process of fighting corruption in the Republic of Moldova is very difficult. The destructive effects of corruption are substantial. Recommendations of the European Union and international institutions are incompletely implemented. From a statistical point of view, the successes obtained are minimal. All this imposes the need to readjust the fight against corruption based on a systemic approach.