The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decides to continue its monitoring of the Republic of Moldova – but says it will consider the possibility of moving to post-monitoring dialogue should expected reforms be carried out. It recommended the Moldovan authorities to implement the new system for financing mayor’s offices from 2014, IPN reports.

In a resolution based on a report by Lise Christoffersen (Norway, SOC) and Piotr Wach (Poland, EPP/CD), the Assembly acknowledged Moldova’s progress and continuous commitment to complying with Council of Europe standards, but pointed out that “a series of fundamental issues” still need to be addressed by the country.

The parliamentarians called for “a political culture that focuses on the separation of powers, respect for checks and balances, de-politicization of the state institutions and law enforcement”, but also promoting human rights and countering discrimination.

The resolution also encourages Moldova to reform the prosecution service, to ensure an appropriate reform of the justice system and to review the system for financing political parties.

The document pays special attention to the decentralization reform and recommends implementing the new system for financing mayor’s offices from 2014.

Parliament is to examine the amendments to the Law on Local Public Finances in the final reading in the autumn session.