The access to public interest information and the transparency of decision-making are two of the most important components of an operating democracy. The right of citizens to request and receive information of public interest is sanctioned in art. 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. Since May 2000 the access to information Law was enacted that offers the specific legal tools needed for exercising the right to information. Against this background, Transparency International - Moldova, in cooperation with the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and the Association for an Independent Press (AIP), has carried out this study on access to information of public interest in the Republic of Moldova, aiming at evaluating the capacities of the central and local public authorities to provide information in compliance with the procedures stipulated in the law and to provide for genuine involvement of the public, nongovernmental organisations and the business community in the decision-making process.

Authors: Efim Obreja, Viorelia Gasca, Natalia Calenic

Based upon the international experience and principles concerning the integrity in customs, the goal of this study is to highlight the level of corruption in customs and the existing problems that contribute to the spread of this phenomenon. The study points out to the ever deeper penetration of corruption in the customs activity which negatively affects the efficiency of the activity of customs and endanger the security of the state. It highlights the forms and causes of corruption in customs, estimates the damages caused by this phenomenon and contains some recommendations for the improvement of the situation in this area.

Authors: L. Carasciuc, M. Ciubotaru, N. Patiuc, L. Bejan

An attempt is made to superpose the map of corruption in the regions (judets) of Moldova upon the map of tax evasion in 2002. It comes to the conclusion that in the regions where there is more corruption, tax evasion is also more spread out. In 2002 the regions with a less favorable situation in terms of the fiscal discipline and corruption were mun. Chisinau, UTA Gagauzia, the judets Cahul and Edinet. The study contains a number of proposals for the prevention of corruption and raising the efficiency of policies for the sustaining of the private sector.