Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has issued a decree putting the Law on the 2008-2011 National Development Strategy (NDS) into effect. At the end of last year, the Parliament passed the Strategy, formerly known as the National Development Plan, without the concurrence of the largest part of the Opposition, which left the sitting hall in protest against its hasty passage. The National Development Strategy covering the period 2008-2011 is Moldova’s main strategic planning document that sets the medium-term development objectives of Moldova and identifies measures and priorities to achieve these objectives. The NDS serves as an instrument for integrating the existing strategic framework, for correlating policies with the budget-planning process, and for assimilating external assistance. The fundamental objective of the NDS is the creation of the necessary conditions for improving living standards by consolidating the basis for a robust, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. According to the Government, the creation of the NDS derives from the need to ensure the continuity of reforms initiated in the context of two major strategic development strategies – the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and the Moldova-EU Action Plan. The NDS focuses on five main strategic priorities: Consolidating a modern democratic state based on the rule of law: Settling the Transnistrian conflict and reintegrating the country; Enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy; Developing human resources, improving the level of employment, and promoting social inclusion; Regional development.