For 25 years, the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) has been at the forefront of engaging youth in civic life, acting as an umbrella organisation for 36 youth groups from all over the country, engaging with the youth wings of political parties and focusing on topics such as social inclusion, youth rights and advocacy, economic empowerment, and environmental protection.
“This year, we’re adding another priority to our list: European integration,” says Grigore Rinja, Project Coordinator at the Council, in conversation with EED a few days before the referendum on pursuing EU membership for Moldova which saw the pro-EU ‘Yes’ vote win with a very narrow margin.
In the lead-up to this high-stakes referendum, the CNTM worked tirelessly to ensure that young voices could be part of the conversation. They launched a series of initiatives to spark dialogue on EU integration, including and online debate featuring representatives from both pro-EU and Eurosceptic parties; strategic partnerships with influencers for online campaigns; and a series of discussions with university students across Moldova, even reaching Gagauzia—one of the regions most targeted by disinformation. One of their partner organizations took a creative approach by developing an EU-themed board game.
“Many older adults are not well informed about the referendum, so we cannot expect young people to be different. That’s why it was important to reach out to them,” says Grigore. He explains that, as someone from a rural area with low youth engagement and limited opportunities, he knows how difficult it is to convince young people to become active citizens. He remembers the frustration of trying to get decision-makers to take youth seriously. “It’s easy to organize a sports event, but it’s much harder to get young people excited about a town meeting or a policy discussion,” he admits.
He also highlights how policies for the youth always take a backseat in areas where resources are scarce. “I would go to my city’s mayor with plans and proposals, and he would say yes to them, but never do anything concrete,” he says. Rough economic conditions also mean that people are less likely to volunteer their time for free, making civic activism less common.
Despite these challenges, a strong local presence of CNTM and its member organisations has allowed them to have a wide reach among Moldovan youth. A project implemented in 2023 with EED funding focused on youth participation in local elections, both as voters and as candidates, with roundtables and debates on the importance of local politics.
The project culminated in the creation of the National Congress of Young Mayors and Local Councilors, a platform for young elected officials to network, exchange ideas and support each other.
“We hope to make this platform a sustainable project that can support young officials throughout their career. We keep in touch with them regularly and aim to host a National Congress once or twice per year as a networking opportunity. We recently hosted its second edition, focusing on EU integration and the role of local communities with 60 young mayors and councillors, which was joined by the Prime Minister.” says Grigore. “But this is not just about holding events; it’s about creating a community where young officials feel empowered to bring their ideas to life.”
The Council ramped up its election-related activity in the run-up to the presidential election, whose first round took place at the same time as the referendum on EU accession. For the first time, youth representatives from the Council took part in an electoral observation mission, getting a front seat to observe the democratic process and its impact on their lives. “We want young people to see democracy in action—not just as voters but as active guardians of the process,” Grigore explains.
For Grigore, this year’s elections were a critical test for Moldova’s democracy, particularly given the rampant pro-Russian misinformation on social media that the government is struggling to counter. He thinks that the 2025 parliamentary elections will be an even more important test: “Many people only look at their pockets - they have low salaries, they are disillusioned with the government, and don’t think that their life will ever change,” he says. “Pro-EU parties need to listen to these concerns and show that Eu integration is not just a political project but a path to a better life. Only when this is clear, we will be able to start the implementation of the reforms for the accession process.”
In the meanwhile, the Council is already working on new ideas and projects to further grow youth engagement ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections: “We’ve already made progress and grown our presence in Gagauzia and in the north, but we want to do more, despite our limited means,” says Grigore. “We also want to advocate for more civic education in schools, so that young people are more knowledgeable and further motivated to take part in decision-making processes.”
This article reflects the views of the grantees featured and does not necessarily represent the official opinion of the EED.
