Representatives of Prime Minister’s Office, the State Chancellery, the Parliament, the national association of local authorities (CALM), and mayors discussed and unanimously agreed on draft amendments that improve the normative framework and institutionalise the mechanism of dialogue and consultation between central and local authorities in the Republic of Moldova.

During the roundtable held on 5 December 2023 in Chisinau, all stakeholders voiced strong support to the draft amendments developed with Congress experts and formulated additional proposals for further improvement. They expressed satisfaction with the participatory and inclusive consultation process and committed to pursue in this same vein of broad negotiation and dialogue for other draft laws. All participants agreed that an improved and consolidated institutionalised dialogue between the central and local authorities will also reinforce the country’s efforts to fulfil its obligations as a Council of Europe member State and achieve its commitments in the EU accession process.

The event was organised in the framework of the project “Republic of Moldova - Congress of Local and Regional Authorities”, implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2021-2024). The project aims to strengthen the dialogue between local and central authorities and support the improvement of the quality of local governance through integrity, corruption prevention, open government, public ethics, gender equality and migration management at local level, as well as support authorities with migration management.