Parliament strengthens dialogue with civil society: Over 20 draft laws subjected to public consultations

In the first half of the year, Parliament organized 61 events, including consultations and public hearings, working meetings, round tables and other activities, attended by representatives of over 50 civil society organizations. In addition, 21 draft laws were subjected to public consultations.

According to the Parliament’s Communication and Public Relations Department, during these events civil society representatives presented 68 recommendations, of which 51.4% were fully or partially accepted and integrated into the legislative process.

Another mechanism through which Parliament makes use of civil society expertise is the expert councils attached to the standing committees. In the first half of the year, the councils held 22 working meetings, during which they examined topics such as agricultural policy, protection of crime victims, telemedicine, social services, environmental protection and tax policy. Following the discussions, 17 recommendations were formulated.

One example is the Expert Council under the Committee for European Integration, called “Experts for the EU.” It is composed of 45 experts in fields relevant to the European agenda, such as international relations, European affairs, law, economics, environmental policies, political science, human rights and gender policies. The Council also includes 17 experts from the diaspora, who carry out their activity in Romania, the United States of America, Germany, Austria, Denmark, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Belgium and Ireland. Their involvement enables the use of relevant European and international experience and best practices for the process of accession to the European Union.

The recommendations formulated by the expert councils have been used in drafting opinions and improving certain legislative initiatives. Thus, this mechanism helps strengthen cooperation between Parliament, the academic community and civil society, and ensures that the decision-making process is grounded in specialized expertise.