PL and PDM propose bill on cooperation between Government and Parliament on European integration

Liberal MP Ana Gutu and Democrat MP Igor Corman came up with a legislative initiative regarding cooperation between the Government and the Parliament in the process of European integration, Info-Prim Neo reports. The bill’s info note cites reports by international experts, prepared last year with the support of UNDP, which found that the Parliament had a very limited role in the process of Moldova’s European integration. According to the reports, the Legislative is insufficiently informed and consulted by the Government and almost doesn’t participate in the formulation of state policies in the field of European integration. The Government is basically the only institution that develops and negotiates Moldova’s positions with the EU and coordinates European affairs. “This state of facts raises some questions, on one hand regarding the Executive’s political mandate, on the other hand regarding the Parliament’s representative role. The current legal framework doesn’t stipulate clearly the role, mandate and competences of each institution, or the mechanism of cooperation between Parliament and Government”, reads the info note. The bill proposes the Parliament to approve the main direction of interior and foreign policies, to adopt the necessary legislative framework for meeting the criteria for EU integration. The Parliament will monitor the Government’s negotiations with the EU and the Executive will motivate, orally or in written form, before the Parliament or the specialized commission, upon their request, any stance different from those stipulated in approval notices or in purely political acts. Another proposal is for the Parliament to establish and adopt a list of bills and legislative initiatives relevant for European integration to be examined during the year, based on the Government’s proposals at the beginning of that year. The MPs also propose the European integration process to be monitored by the specialized parliamentary commission. It will monitor the dialogue and negotiations between the Government and the EU and will offer political counseling to the Government in matters related to European integration. The commission will hear the Government and will issue approval notices and recommendations regarding Moldova’s positions in relation to the EU.