The Ministry of Justice chaired the third monitoring meeting on the implementation of the Roadmap on the functioning of democratic institutions. The meeting was held with the participation of representatives of the European Commission and focused on the progress made since the previous monitoring session, which took place in February, TRIBUNA reports.

“Republic of Moldova has achieved concrete legislative and institutional results across all three thematic areas of the Roadmap: the electoral process, the functioning of Parliament, and the role of civil society. These achievements confirm our country’s commitment and determination to strengthen democratic institutions and advance on the path toward European Union accession,” stated Stela Braniște, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice, at the opening of the meeting.

During the meeting with representatives of the European Commission directorates responsible for monitoring, members of the working group presented the results achieved and the timeline for advancing the measures planned for 2026.

In the electoral field, based on the recommendations of the ODIHR election observation mission for the 2025 parliamentary elections, other post‑electoral assessments, as well as recommendations from the European Commission and the Venice Commission, a draft law amending the Electoral Code and related legislation has been developed. The draft, which will be submitted to Parliament for examination, aims to improve the legal framework and strengthen guarantees for free, fair, inclusive, and resilient elections. It was also noted that the Central Electoral Commission has launched digital mechanisms for post‑electoral monitoring, ensured accessibility through the activation of the online complaints submission module, strengthened oversight of campaign financing, and initiated the process of aligning national legislation with the EU Regulation on the transparency of political advertising.

Regarding the functioning of Parliament, significant steps have been taken to increase transparency in legislative activity, broaden access to parliamentary processes, and involve civil society representatives in the consultation of draft laws. The EU welcomed the adoption, in first reading, of the Code on the Organization and Functioning of Parliament, which will be supplemented in the second reading with provisions aimed at strengthening the parliamentary ethics framework. At the same time, civil society will have a clearer role in parliamentary work, as 11 out of the 12 standing committees of the new legislature have established expert councils.

In the area of civil society, progress has been made in finalizing and consulting the draft of the new law on public participation in the decision‑making process. The approval of the Concept and Regulation for the particip.gov.md portal was also highlighted. Once operational, the portal will allow civil society and all interested individuals to contribute directly to decision‑making. The commitment to streamline administrative processes for non‑commercial organizations has materialized through the launch of the new Information System “State Register of Legal Entities,” which significantly simplifies all procedures related to the life cycle of a legal entity, reduces paperwork, and shortens processing times.

The Roadmap on the functioning of democratic institutions is coordinated by the Ministry of Justice. The document reflects the key political criteria of the EU accession process and focuses on how state institutions operate in practice to ensure democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights.