A delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe carried out remote meetings in the framework of the post-monitoring on the situation of local and regional democracy in the Republic of Moldova, on 3 February 2022.
The delegation consisted of the co-rapporteurs on local and regional democracy in Moldova, Gunn Marit Helgesen (Norway, EPP/CCE) and Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG). They held meetings with local and national authorities to assess developments regarding the implementation of the Congress recommendation adopted in 2019 and the corresponding roadmap signed in April 2021 that identified key priorities to be addressed according to a timetable that has been agreed among stakeholders. All meetings were held online due to the current health crisis.
The delegation had an exchange of views with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. A joint meeting took place with the Secretary General of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Minister of Finance, the Governor (Bashkan) of the ATU of Gagauzia, the President of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM), the President of the Moldovan National Delegation to the Congress, as well as members of the Parliamentary Committee for Public Administration.
These meetings will be followed by an onsite visit of the rapporteurs to Chisinau during the spring.
The Republic of Moldova ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1997. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter demands the implementation of a minimum set of rights which constitute the core basis for local self-government in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are respected in the 47 member States of the Council of Europe.
