Civil society's proposals discussed with representatives of parliament, government

Chisinau, 18 May /MOLDPRES/- Representatives of the parliament, government and civil society participated in a working meeting today. They discussed the proposals by the civil society on promoting and consolidating financial sustainability of NGOs. The event was organised by the parliament, in concert with the National Council of NGOs, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported.

The main issues were focused on the provisions of the Law 2%, legal framework on social entrepreneurship and legislation on gender equality in politics.

Attending the event were Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, Deputy Speaker Liliana Palihovici, the head of the commission for economy, budget and finances Stefan Creanga, Finance Minister Anatol Arapu, Deputy Economics Minister Tudor Copaci, Deputy Labor, Social Protection and Family Minister Gheorghe Turcanu and representatives of civil society.

The participants in the event submitted a string of proposals on improving the legal framework on the matter, mechanism for enforcing the Law 2 %, list of beneficiaries, including by taking over the experience of European states. The representatives of civil society pointed out that the law must conceived so as to help consolidate the NGOs.

The speaker expressed willingness to back the proposals to amending the Law 2% which would be submitted by the civil society and to promote them in the specialised parliamentary commissions.  

The talks related to the law on social entrepreneurship generated debates on viable solution to Moldova - a separate draft law or amendments to the current legislation. The participants in the talks decided to create a working group meant to consider the situation and to set proposals to the attention of government. In the context, Palihovici announced that the issue was to be discussed within the public hearings, due to be organised the next days, in order to monitor the implementation of laws regulating the centres that provided certain categories of social services in the context of enforcement of the law on local public finances.

The representatives of civil society also requested to speed up adopting the legislation on gender equality in politics. They stressed the need to organise a meeting with members of specialised parliamentary commissions to discuss the issues.

The working meeting took place in the context of implementation of the civil society development strategy for 2012-2015 and ensuring transparency of decision making and strengthening the dialogue between the central authorities and civil society.

(Editor M. Jantovan)