The national mechanism for coordinating the European integration process needs to be consolidated, said Iulian Groza, executive director of the Institute for European Politics and Reforms (IRPE). In a public debate, he presented a set of proposals for improving the mechanism, including to set up a European Integration Office under the Prime Minister or at the State Chancellery, IPN reports.

The proposals were formulated following an analysis of the activity of the institutions that draw up Moldova’s European integration agenda, comparing it with that in EU member states or in countries that want to join the EU.

Iulian Groza said there is no common opinion within the IPRE as to the creation of the Office so that the idea is to be considered in the medium and long terms. There is now no need to transfer the coordination powers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration to a new body. “It’s not so important what body coordinates the European integration process. It is more important for the public servants working at these bodies to be well trained,” he stated.

The IPRE executive director presented a set of 13 proposals for improving the national mechanism for coordinating the European integration process. He suggested signing an agreement of cooperation in implementing and monitoring the Moldova-EU Association Agreement between the Government and Parliament and reviewing the composition of the Governmental Commission for European Integration by including representatives of Parliament and civil society in it.

Iulian Groza and other participants in the debate pleaded for implementing efficient policies for motivating the public functionaries involved in this process and for generally reviewing their employment conditions. They underlined the necessary of reducing the number of plans concerning the European integration as some of their provisions are repeated.

Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola approved of the proposals, saying these come from persons who worked in the Government and know the situation and the commitments undertaken by Moldova.

The debate was staged within the Promotion of Public Policies in the Context of the European Integration of Moldova Project that is implemented by IPRE with support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.