The legislative body agreed a new list of ministries. Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration became the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other area was taken over by the Bureau for European Integration of the State Chancellery, IPN reports.

The decision was drafted by PAS MP Olesea Stamate at the request of Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who was not present at the Parliament’s sitting. According to the author, no staff augmentation and additional costs are planned.

“The creation of a new ministry or a new institution is not envisioned. We already have the Bureau for European Integration, which is part of the State Chancellery. Therefore, the newly proposed minister, without portfolio, will coordinate the work of this Bureau within the State Chancellery,” said Olesea Stamate, answering the opposition’s questions.

In his speech, Deputy Parliament Speaker, Socialist heavyweight Vlad Batrîncea, criticized the creation of new public entities in the very bad financial and budgetary conditions in which Moldova is now. According to him, the government refers to the experience of other states, but France, for example, doesn’t have deputy prime ministers, while Moldova five such officials. The money that will be additionally allocated to the State Chancellery must be redirected for real needs, such as the salaries of employees of the Moldovan Railways.

MP of the Party of Action and Solidarity Mihail Druță said that European integration is not about foreign policy, but about domestic policy. “All states that joined the European Union constituted a special institution for European integration, separate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After accession, this body is not dissolved, but continues to operate with a changed name. In most states, it is called the Ministry for European Affairs,” stated the MP.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is managed by Mihai Popșoi, who took the oath of office earlier this week. The position of minister for European affairs will be held by Cristina Gerasimov, who will also be Moldova’s chief negotiator in the process of integration into the European Union. She will also head the Bureau for European Integration as a minister without portfolio.