The Council for European Integration of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova convened in first meeting on 19 April 2016. The Council ensures parliamentary oversight of the implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement (AA) and of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The platform was created recently with the support of UNDP Moldova in the framework of the project “Improving the quality of Moldovan democracy through parliamentary and electoral support”, implemented with the financial support of the Government of Sweden and input from the EU High Level Advisor to the Parliament.

Andrian Candu, Speaker of the Parliament, at the opening of the Council said that ”while examining the progress made in the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU, with support and expertise from the UNDP Moldova, we identified that there is lack of communication and proper understanding in the Parliament in relation to the AA and DCFTA. We decided that we establish this Council as a platform which presupposes a mobilization of all standing committees and relevant parliamentary staff. During the process of European integration we don’t need only to pass legislation, but also to ensure parliamentary oversight of it application”.

The Council will contribute to enhanced institutional coordination, citizen’s engagement and parliamentary oversight of the harmonization with EU legislation and transposition of the latter into national legislation. Creation of the Parliamentary Council for European Integration was proposed following UNDP Moldova’s Report on the assessment of the role of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova in the process of European integration. The Report was drafted by Razvan Buzatu, international consultant, UNDP Moldova.

It is for the first time that the chairs of all standing committees of the Parliament of Moldova, under the coordination of the Speaker of the Parliament, work together under one parliamentary umbrella with the purpose to ensure coordination of efforts and improved parliamentary oversight of implementation of Moldova’s European integration commitments. In follow up to the first meeting of the Council, UNDP International Consultant Razvan Buzatu noted that “currently we are working out a mechanism of parliamentary oversight which will enable the Parliament and its bodies to review and verify from European integration perspective all draft laws tabled in the Parliament. In addition, the Parliament is expected to play an important role in overseeing the implementation of European integration commitments and laws.”

The Council consists of the Speaker of the Parliament, chairs of all standing committees, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Association Republic of Moldova – European Parliament, President of Euronest, Parliament staffers, as well as outside invitees.