The project “SCOPE” launched in Chișinău to strengthen civil society participation in Moldova’s EU accession process.
CHIȘINĂU, Moldova, July 14, 2026 — Twenty civil society organisations gathered in Chișinău for the launch of the project Strengthening Civic Organisations for Participation and Engagement (SCOPE) and its training programme. Led by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) in partnership with Promo-LEX Association (Promo-LEX), the Independent Journalism Centre (IJC), and ARTICLE 19 Europe. With financial support from the European Union, this initiative aims to boost the capacity of Moldovan NGOs to engage with, monitor, and contribute to Moldova’s EU accession process.
The 2.5-year training programme will bring together national civil society organisations in a Leadership and Training Programme with seven camps, peer learning sessions, and structured dialogue. The programme will also award 10 to 12 grants to coalitions of participating organisations, supporting locally driven initiatives in the areas of rule of law, human rights, media freedom, digital and electoral rights, and good governance.
The first camp (6–9 July 2026) established the foundation for this work. It brought nominated participants together for an introduction to the EU accession process, workshops on leadership and organisational resilience, and a regional exchange on disinformation and democratic resilience. These sessions intended to build a shared knowledge base and strong connections among the cohort of NGOs.
This launch came at a key moment in Moldova’s European path. On June 15, 2026, the EU and Moldova opened negotiations on the “Fundamentals” Cluster 1 of accession talks that covers core issues such as the rule of law, fundamental rights, justice and public administration reform. The EU has set interim benchmarks for Moldova’s judiciary and fundamental-rights reforms. Independent civic oversight is crucial during this phase, which the project “SCOPE” is designed to strengthen.
“With the opening of the first cluster of negotiations, Moldova has taken a decisive step closer to the European Union, made possible by the determination of its people and the strength of its democratic institutions, said Martina Spernbauer, Head of the Governance Team of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova. The road ahead demands a resilient civic sector engaged in the EU accession process. The European Union welcomes the project “SCOPE” and remains a committed partner to Moldova’s civil society every step of the process.”
“For Moldova’s path to EU membership it will be important for reforms to be adopted, but also for citizens and civil society to be able to meaningfully shape and monitor them,” said Marcela Rilovic, Programme Manager at the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. “Through SCOPE we aim to equip Moldovan civil society organisations with the skills, connections and support they need to participate in this process and ensure that European integration delivers real benefits for people’s lives.”
At the kick-off camp, the consortium partners (NHC, Promo-LEX, IJC and ARTICLE 19 Europe) presented the programme’s objectives and the training and funding support available to participants. By connecting NGOs, independent media, academia and public authorities, the project “SCOPE” seeks to support more transparent, accountable and inclusive reforms in Moldova.
This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and its consortium partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
