The business community wants to be part of the decision-making process and consultations involving the business should not remain formal. A consultative platform at the level of Parliament would boost the dialogue, said Viorel Pîrvan, legal expert at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Policies, during a public discussion.
Creating consultative platforms is one of the objectives pursued by Moldova on its European course. The platforms would be established according to the specifics of the parliamentary committees. Relevant business associations will be invited to participate, and every time the parliamentary committee examines a bill that has an impact on business, the bill will pass through the council. If it will not be discussed within the platform, the draft should not go forward, suggested Viorel Pîrvan.
The expert says that advisory platforms will bring opportunities, as the business community will be able to contribute with proposals, constructive criticism and analysis. Not only the business community, but also the legislature will benefit from this consultative process, Viorel Pîrvan says. When new MPs take their offices, not all of them know the realities of different sectors, and this communication with the targeted subjects will help them make informed decisions. Thus, Parliament will strengthen its credibility.
Veronica Rusu-Marin, program director at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Policies, said that involving the business community in the decision-making process is one of the conditions for countries that aspire for EU membership. Representatives of business and civil society can make an essential contribution to the development of democracy.
Marian Cepoi, expert in the Department of Local and Regional Policies of the European Commission, says that there is a big difference between how decisions are made in the EU and decisions within a country. The EU pays particular attention to consultation tools. It combines written consultation tools and direct interactions with stakeholders. The Commission may request expertise in a specific area and may target a specific group of stakeholders. All contributions are published and everyone has access to them. Those who take part in the consultations are able to be informed whether or not their proposals have been accepted and why. At the end, a general synthesis report covering the result of the consultations is drawn up, which accompanies the initiative until it is adopted by the Commission.
The public discussion organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Policies targeted the private sector as an important part of the decision-making process in the context of the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union.
