More transparency in government thanks to National Participatory Council

Speaking at the latest meeting of the National Participatory Council (CNP), Prime Minister Vlad Filat remarked that many goals had been set in two years: some were achieved, others not, yet he was pleased that transparency of governance increased, Info-Prim Neo reports. Both CNP memberships attended the meeting: the outgoing members from 2010-2012 and the new ones. Sorin Mereacre (East-European Foundation), chairman during the first term, praised the Prime Minister’s decision to create the National Participatory Council, a tool that allowed civil society to participate in decision-making and ensure transparency in the development of public policies. During two years, the four workgroups within the council monitored, participated in consultations on laws, came up with various initiatives and coooperated with state institutions. “I find it important that the CNP met not only with the PM, but with ministers and deputy ministers as well, in order to ensure a continuous dialogue and to monitor progress in concrete areas. We think it’s necessary that all institutions placed on their webpages all the decision projects or draft laws, the persons involved in their development, so as to facilitate communication and offer us the possibility to express our opinions. We think the webpages should also show the institution’s plans regarding the development of public policies. With these plans available, we won’t have to wait until the last minute to come up with recommendations thought up in two days or even several ours”, said Sorin Mereacre. Alecu Renita (The Ecologist Movement of Moldova) spoke of the need to educate civic spirit by offering correct and vast information about the situation in economy and other domains, about development priorities, to the citizens Leonid Litra (IDIS Viitorul) thinks that the CNP, a structure made up of NGOs, must be an interface between the government and ordinary people. The CNP should represent people’s voice more intensely in what concerns the development of public policies. Arcadie Barbarosie (Institute of Public Policies) reiterated the need to assure the NGOs access to sources of funding for research so that the recommendations of civil society could be based on profound studies. The new membership of the CNP elected Sergiu Ostaf (NGO’s Resource Center for Human Rights) as the new chairman for the next two years. His deputy will be Antonita Fonari (Resource Center “Young and Free”). The 30 new members of the council have been selected between December 12, 2011 and February 3, 2012.