Parliament approves 2008-2011 National Development Strategy

The Parliament on Friday, December 21, approved the National Development Strategy covering 2008-2011, while the largest part of the parliamentary opposition left the sitting hall in protest against its hasty passage. The National Development Strategy (NDS) is the new name given by the specialised parliamentary commission to the National Development Plan. The Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) Party has tried twice, at Thursday’s and Friday’s meeting, to postpone the vote on the NDS, arguing that the document was just recently submitted to the Parliament and was not studied carefully enough. The proposal was voted down by the majority faction. In reaction AMN leader Serafim Urecheanu stated that his faction was leaving the sitting hall. Earlier during that sitting the Democratic faction also left in protest against the passage of the bill on political parties. The discontented factions were followed by several unaffiliated MPs, leaving the majority faction, the Christian-Democrats and a few independent lawmakers to pass the NDS undisturbed. First Deputy Premier Zinaida Greceanyi stated that the 2008-2011 NDS is the 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 quality of life through 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.