The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the European Parliament (EP) signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding today, March 18, in Brussels. Speaker Igor Grosu and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola signed the document.
The renewed Memorandum of Understanding, which enters into force on Wednesday, brings the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova closer to European Union standards. It strengthens institutional capacities and supports reform efforts, contributing to improved legislative and administrative activities.
The activities outlined in the document will continue to support the Republic of Moldova on its path to European Union accession. Each autumn, the two institutions will jointly develop and approve an activity plan for the following year. These activities will include study visits, exchanges of best practices between parliamentarians, training and professional development programs for parliamentary staff, facilitation of dialogue between parliamentary factions, and efforts to strengthen the capacities of parliamentary committees. They will also promote initiatives that strengthen the role of young and women parliamentarians in the decision-making process, along with organizing conferences, seminars, and parliamentary round tables in the Republic of Moldova and at one of the European Parliament’s headquarters.
Igor Grosu stated that the country has taken an important step on its European path.
“The new memorandum, which enters into force today, brings the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova even closer to European Union standards by strengthening institutional capacity and supporting our reform efforts. It is a partnership that helps us become better, more efficient, and more prepared for member state status. We have reliable partners by our side, and together we are building, step by step, Moldova’s European future,” Grosu said.
On November 29, 2021, former European Parliament President David Sassoli and Speaker Igor Grosu signed the previous Memorandum of Understanding on a Common Framework for Parliamentary Democracy Support. The document expired at the end of the previous legislature of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.