Carnegie’s Judy Dempsey discusses the progress and setbacks of three former communist states — Hungary, Romania and Moldova — as they attempt to morph into modern, democratic European countries. Hungary, and EU member, made great strides before Prime Minister Viktor Orban seized power, but resistance to Orban’s dictatorial style is now growing. EU state Romania was riddled with corruption for years, but the recent election of reformer President Klaus Iohannis appears to have set Bucharest on a democratic course. Moldova signed an association agreement with the EU last year, but its pro-European government has failed to capitalize on new trade opportunities, and the former Soviet state risks falling back into Russia’s orbit. Romania is offering a helping hand to Moldova, though.