On Thursday, the National Participatory Council recommended Prime Minister-designate Vlad Filat a set measures to combat corruption, increase decision-making transparency and other recommendations related to most of the Government’s activities. According to a government press release, Prime Minister Filat also received proposals on the subject of increasing access to information held by public authorities, especially concerning the management of public funds and the monitoring of ministries’ activity. Participants in the meeting also stressed the need to promote gender equality at a higher level and to carry out education, mass media, healthcare and environment reforms. The reforms must be based on relevant studies and analyses and financially sustainable, so that required actions can be funded. Vlad Filat promised the government would listen to the submitted proposals. He hopes for a more intense collaboration between the state authorities and the civil society with the help of the National Participatory Council. This is a counseling structure attached to the government. Its members are representatives of the civil society. This week, the prime minister also sought advice from representatives of labor unions and employers’ associations regarding the future government program. On January 14, Vlad Filat is expected to announce the ministers and to present the governing program.