Moldovan parliament speaker appeals to Sweden's assistance to modernise institutional capacities of legislature

Chisinau, 12 March /MOLDPRES/ - Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu has asked for Sweden's assistance to modernise the institutional and functional capacities of the legislative body. The request was made at a meeting between Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu and Speaker of the Riksdag (parliament) of Sweden Urban Ahlin, held in Vilnius on 11 March, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported.

"It is important to explain the citizens the advantages of the country's European integration process. On this ground, it is necessary to modernise the capacities and ways of informing, the parliament avails of," Andrian Candu said. 

For his part, Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin said that Sweden was willing to help Moldova, towards which it has a special fellow feeling. "We want to help you in terms of functioning of the parliament, so that the legislative institution becomes more transparent, and the people understand how the parliament works, how the laws are adopted and what is discussed in the parliament," the speaker of the Riksdag said.  

Andrian Candu thanked his Swedish counterpart for backing Moldova's European integration, as well as for the ratification of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement by the parliament of Sweden. The speaker reconfirmed the Moldovan political establishment's commitment to continue implementing the reforms, in order to carry out the European integration of Moldova.

"The Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and EU represent the most suitable instruments for the country's modernisation. It is important that we implement the reform of justice, financial and banking sector and of improving the business climate as soon as possible," Andrian Candu stressed. 

At the same time, the Moldovan speaker highlighted the valuable political support of Sweden, including the financial backing provided to Moldova. Sweden is the biggest donor at the bilateral level in Moldova. Projects in the sectors of human rights, energy and biomass, lasting infrastructure, market development and fighting corruption, reform of the central public administration are carried out with Swedish support. Sixteen 16 projects with an overall budget of 36.8 million euros are presently under implementation. 

(Editor M. Jantovan)