Alexei Buzu, Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, addressed the 50th Congress session on 1 April, speaking on behalf of the Moldovan Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. In his statement, Secretary General Buzu placed local democracy and good governance at the core of democratic resilience, underlining the importance of cooperation in the face of shared challenges.
“The Council of Europe has been a true partner for the Republic of Moldova. Its work on local self-government has guided us to take on what I believe is our most important reform – rebuilding local public administration,” he opened, thanking both the Congress and the Council for their continued support and constructive dialogue. The Secretary General pointed out that the European Charter of Local Self-Government was a “cornerstone of democratic resilience” in the Republic of Moldova.
He also reaffirmed his country’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine: “Our commitment to Ukraine goes beyond words. The International Claims Commission for Ukraine, co-hosted by the Council of Europe and the Netherlands, is being established to ensure justice and compensation.”
Mr Buzu further emphasised the essential role of social rights in safeguarding democratic stability and security, referring to a recent high-level conference on the European Social Charter held in Chișinău in March 2026. “Investing in social rights means investing in the future of democracy itself. Democratic stability and security can only be achieved where social rights are adequately protected,” said the Secretary General, inviting member States to place these rights at the heart of the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact for Europe.
He also underscored the importance of youth participation, referencing the Ministerial Conference on Youth held in Malta last October, which adopted both a Final Declaration and a Resolution establishing a Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective: “When young people see themselves reflected in our decisions, they invest in democracy. We have seen this. It works. And it must become standard practice, not an exception.”
Concluding his address, Secretary General Buzu renewed his invitation to the newly elected Congress President Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) to the 135th Session of the Committee of Ministers, which will be held in Chișinău in May of this year, reinforcing “the spirit of continued cooperation and constructive dialogue” between the Congress and the Committee of Ministers.
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