Știri sociale

The Draft of the Public Participation in Decision-Making Law has mobilized civil society from Cahul which has joined efforts to actively contribute to improving the regulatory framework of the relations between public authorities and citizens, non-commercial associations, and stakeholders involved in the decision-making process.

Following the joint meeting held on March 10, 2026, at Contact-Cahul Center, in the municipality of Cahul, members of the Local Transparency Council and the District Council for Participation analyzed the draft law submitted for public consultations on the online platform particip.gov.md, contributing with concrete proposals and recommendations based on their experience at the local level.

Through this joint exercise, civil society aimed to contribute to the development of a more effective legal framework capable of ensuring genuine citizen participation in the decision-making process at the local level. The analysis highlighted both the progress achieved in the draft law and the need for certain adjustments to better reflect local realities.

Participants welcomed the inclusion of participation councils and transparency councils in the draft law, considering that this reflects the recognition of their role in strengthening dialogue between authorities and civil society. At the same time, the expansion of the concept of public participation through the introduction of new instruments, such as the civic initiative, was also appreciated.

At the same time, members of the two platforms emphasized the need to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and reporting mechanisms in order to ensure the effective implementation of legal provisions and to avoid the gaps identified in the current regulatory framework.

“The Local Transparency Council Cahul has been directly involved in initiating and drafting this Law since February 2025, both on the governmental platform and on the platform of the Center for Policy and Reforms in Moldova. This represents a first experience of this kind for our team”, stated Vladimir LÎSENCO, President of LTC Cahul.

In turn, Vitalie PONOMARIOV, Executive Director of the ECOU Association, which provides the secretariat of LTC Cahul, noted: “Members of LTC Cahul consider it appropriate to amend the current legal framework on decision-making transparency. This joint meeting demonstrates the increased interest of civil society in the Cahul region in developing participatory democracy at the local level”.

Following the joint meeting, at the beginning of this week, a formal submission containing 43 proposals and recommendations regarding the draft law was sent, aimed at strengthening transparency, expanding public participation at all stages of the decision-making process, and improving interaction between authorities and civil society.

Through this initiative, civil society in Cahul demonstrates its ability to act in a coordinated and efficient manner in order to influence public policy-making processes and to contribute to strengthening participatory democracy in the Republic of Moldova.

The meeting was organized within the framework of the project “LTC Cahul – The Voice of Citizens in Local Governance”, implemented by the ECOU Association, as part of the INSPIRE Moldova initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by People in Need Moldova (PIN Moldova).

The INSPIRE Moldova initiative aims to support civil society in the Republic of Moldova to actively influence national policies and contribute to the country’s integration into the European Union by engaging civil society organizations in political processes at both national and local levels, including through a strong digital component. The initiative also promotes dialogue and cooperation with public authorities, ensuring that civil society becomes a key actor in advancing democracy in Moldova.

This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the INSPIRĂ Moldova project. The content is the sole responsibility of the project funded by the European Union. The content of this material belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.