Deputy Speaker: Cooperation between Parliament and civil society important for European path of Moldova

Cooperation between Parliament and civil society must become more efficient and results-oriented in the context of the reforms required for the European path of the Republic of Moldova.

Deputy Speaker Doina Gherman made the statement at annual conference Cooperation Between Parliament and Civil Society, which started today in Chișinău. The event was attended by MPs, representatives of the diplomatic corps and members of civil society.

At the opening of the conference, the official stressed that the Republic of Moldova is at an important stage, in which a broad process of legislative harmonization and implementation of reforms is to follow, which will require consolidated efforts from all the actors involved.

She noted that the event goes beyond a simple institutional discussion and reflects the need to consolidate efforts to build a European state.

"It is a privilege for me to open this event, which has a much greater stake than simply launching yet another discussion about cooperation between Parliament and civil society. I am glad that we are shifting the focus towards joining our efforts to build a European state at this key moment for the Republic of Moldova," Gherman said.

She warned that the coming period will be a complex one, marked by multiple pressures, but also by the need to strengthen democratic institutions.

"We all realize that, in the coming years, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova will go through the broadest and most complex legislative process since independence. We have a large volume of legislation to harmonize and we are committing to difficult but absolutely necessary reforms," the official underlined.

At the same time, Doina Gherman highlighted the role of civil society in the reform process and in bringing decisions closer to the realities in communities.

"Civil society organizations are those that understand community problems best, before they appear in official reports. They generate expertise, exert pressure for reforms, but also offer concrete solutions," she noted.

The official called for a new stage of collaboration between Parliament and civil society, based on less formalism and more involvement in the decision-making process.

"The relationship between Parliament and civil society must enter a new stage, which should mean less formalism, less bureaucracy and more participation in the decision-making process. The speed of reforms will matter enormously, but just as important is our ability to maintain public trust," Gherman said.

She added that the process of European integration entails both institutional responsibility and social cohesion.

"The European Union will assess not only our capacity to adopt legislation, but also the maturity of our democratic institutions, the Parliament’s ability to function transparently and society’s capacity to remain united around the European course,"she said.

In conclusion, Doina Gherman emphasized the importance of cooperation among all categories of actors involved in the state modernization process.

"Political parties provide representativeness, civil society provides expertise and a connection to community realities, and international partners provide support for reforms. Together we form the necessary architecture for transforming the Republic of Moldova into a European state," the official concluded.

Also at the conference, the Vice President of the European Parliament, Nicolae Ștefănuță, delivered a speech. He reiterated that civil society plays an important role in the European path and highlighted the need for continuous support for the Republic of Moldova in its European integration process.

"Moldova needs real support to advance in the accession process. I call on all decision-makers to support this path. European integration is not an easy process, but it is an irreversible one," Ștefănuță said.

The Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova, Guido Beltrani, also delivered a speech in Romanian.

"Parliament represents the voice of the people through elected representatives, while civil society reflects the pulse of society, the aspirations, concerns and lived realities of citizens. When these two forces engage in genuine dialogue, democracy is strengthened. First of all, this collaboration makes it possible to harness a wide range of expertise in the process of drafting legislation. Through the early and consistent involvement of civil society, Parliament can benefit from relevant expertise, innovative ideas and diverse perspectives. Secondly, dialogue with civil society ensures that laws are grounded in the realities of those directly affected. This provides a valuable analysis of the situation before normative acts are adopted. The diversity of experiences within civil society makes its contribution all the more important. In fact, civil society organizations serve as essential bridges between citizens and institutions. Through open dialogue, MPs can better understand society’s problems, ensuring that laws are well anchored in reality and inclusive. In times of uncertainty or division, open communication between institutions and citizens helps strengthen trust. Dialogue, therefore, is not just a technical tool, but a fundamental condition for a functioning democracy," the official said.

In the opening of the conference, a speech was also delivered by the representative of the National Platform of the Civil Society Forum for the Eastern Partnership, Sergiu Gurău.

"We are in the year 2026, a year in which the Republic of Moldova is at one of the most important crossroads of its recent history. That is precisely why, before talking about perspectives, we must highlight a few realities that civil society faces every day. First of all, civil society in the Republic of Moldova operates in an increasingly complex environment in terms of financial sustainability. Dependence on external funding reveals a structural vulnerability. Although there are internal public funding mechanisms, such as percentage designation or grant programs of public authorities, these remain insufficiently consolidated and unevenly distributed at the territorial level. There is a need for a legislative and fiscal framework that stimulates local philanthropy and reduces organizations’ dependence on cycles of international projects. Secondly, pressures on civic space remain real. Disinformation, attacks on activists and organizations in the online environment, as well as attempts to delegitimize civil society as ‘external agents’, have not disappeared but have become more sophisticated. The democratic resilience of the Republic of Moldova depends directly on the capacity of the state and Parliament to actively protect civic space, not to restrict it. Thirdly, there remains a deficit of inclusion in the decision-making process at the local level. The decentralization of civic participation is an essential condition for a functioning democracy. We have the shared responsibility to turn these into concrete responses, into public policies, into laws and into sustainable institutional practices," the cited source concluded.

The annual conference "Cooperation Between Parliament and Civil Society" aims to assess progress in cooperation between Parliament and civil society, facilitate constructive dialogue and identify concrete commitments to strengthen the partnership. During the general session, the topic "Parliament’s Cooperation with Civil Society: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives" will be addressed. Discussions will focus on strengthening dialogue between Parliament and civil society organizations, promoting decision-making transparency and involving citizens in the legislative process.

The session will be attended by Marcel Spatari, Chair of the Committee for European Integration, Victor Agrici, Secretary General of Parliament, Tamara Gheorghița, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Ion Manole, Executive Director of the Promo-LEX Association, and Vlada Ciobanu, Program Director at the Center for Policies and Reforms.

The event agenda also includes five thematic discussion sessions dedicated to the Open Government Action Plan and the commitments of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the sustainability of civil society, the role of civil society at local level in the decision-making process, civil society’s contribution to the European integration process, as well as its involvement in solving social problems in the community.

The annual conference "Cooperation Between Parliament and Civil Society" is organized by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova in partnership with the project "Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy in Moldova" (PADEM), Promo-LEX, the European Parliament Liaison Office for the Eastern Partnership and the SALAR International program.

The platform for dialogue and civic participation in the Parliament’s decision-making process, created in 2023, establishes the instruments for cooperation between the legislature and civil society.