Activity of the Government on October 19–31, 2009

Decisions

Decision concerning the allocation of funds. Under the decision, 20 million lei will be allocated from the Reserve Fund to repair the Presidency and Parliament buildings. Around 80 million lei was initially demanded for this purpose, but the amount was reduced after a revision of expenses. On this occasion, Prime Minister Vladimir Filat reported that 130 million lei donated by SA “Moldtelecom” and SA “Banca de Economii” was spent on renovation of the two buildings so far. The works at the Presidency and Parliament buildings are expected to close in January and March 2010 respectively.

Decision concerning some measures to execute the law for modification of the law on Government. In connection with the approval of a new structure of central public administration, and with the opening, reorganisation or change of the name of some ministries and central administrative authorities, competences of certain central public administration authorities are transferred:

Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure — competences relating to transportation area and those related to road infrastructure, formerly exercised by the Transport Agency and Ministry of Construction and Area Development respectively;
Ministry of Youth and Sport — competences related to youth and development of physical culture and sport, formerly exercised by the Ministry of Education and Youth and Sport Agency respectively;
Ministry of Culture and Tourism Agency — competences related to culture, book trade, cinematography and tourism, formerly exercised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism;
Ministry of Construction and Regional Development — competences related to regional development, formerly exercised by the Ministry of Local Public Administration;
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry — competences formerly exercised by the Agro-Industrial Agency “Moldova-Vin”;
Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family — competences related to development of human resources, demography, labour, salary policy and labour force migration, as well as competences related to receiving and distributing humanitarian assistance, formerly exercised by the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Agency of Material Reserves, Public Procurements and Humanitarian Aid respectively;
Ministry of Finance — competences related to public procurements formerly exercised by the Agency of Material Reserves, Public Procurements and Humanitarian Aid;
State Chancellery — competences related to state reintegration matters and Government’s relations with local public administration authorities, formerly exercised by the Reintegration Ministry and Ministry of Local Public Administration respectively;
The Customs Service is now coordinated by the Ministry of Finance;
The Licensing Chamber is now controlled by the Ministry of Economy;
The Agency “Apele Moldovei” is now controlled by the Ministry of Environment;
The Registry Service is now subordinated to the Ministry of Justice;
The Ministry of Justice is now founder of the State-Run State Registration Chamber.

Sittings. Decisions

Participation of associative sector

The Government invites civil society to jointly work out a participatory mechanism for drafting, monitoring and assessing public policies. A draft regulation concerning the procedures of holding public debates was proposed to the associative sector during a meeting between Prime Minister Vladimir Filat and representatives of nongovernmental organisations. The prime minister noted that the Government recommends a council to advise the executive, which would institutionalise cooperation between central authorities and associative sector, survey draft normative and legislative policies, and recommend actions to improve the legal framework. Civil society representatives welcomed the initiative, but sought actions to improve the registration and operation requirements for nongovernmental associations.

Sitting of CCECC College

Prime minister has attended the sitting of the Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCCEC), which discussed issues related to assessment of corruption risks, methodological support provided to central public authorities in the area concerned, as well as execution of the plan for implementing the strategy on preventing and combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. While addressing the sitting, prime minister stated that the new Government has monitored its subdivisions and decided to keep CCECC as part of the governmental structure, in order to combat corruption and organised crime. Vladimir Filat noted that he has many questions regarding some situations related to CCECC activity related to the import of goods, illegal rises of tariffs, money laundering, activity of shadow firms, monopoly on meat and fish imports etc.

Sitting of the Republican extraordinary anti-epidemic Commission

An ample report concerning the current situation and actions taken to prevent the spread of A/H1N1 virus was presented during the sitting. According to available information, 132 suspects of pandemic flu were investigated in the Republic of Moldova before October 30, of them 19 patients were confirmed by laboratory tests and one died. The action plan on preventing, combating and intervening against pandemic flu approved by the Ministry of Health jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, as well as the communication plan on pandemic flu are being implemented. An action plan is being implemented to improve hygiene in educational institutions. Prime minister demanded actions to protect risky groups (border guards, customs officers, doctors) in particular, and an ample campaign to inform about measures against A/H1N1 virus.

Meeting with representatives of different trade unions

During the meeting with representatives of trade unions the situation in terms of providing salary earners with leisure and treatment papers for 2009 was discussed. The situation became worse, as 62 million lei was not allocated from budget. Representatives of trade unions recommended to be revised the quota of beneficiaries of treatment papers. Prime minister promised that his cabinet will consider the possibility to allocate the requested funds and instructed minister of finance in this respect. On the other hand, prime minister assured that the Government seeks a long-term partnership with trade unions and a dialogue to resolve problems.

Action plan to remove constraints on business environment

The Ministry of Economy has worked out an action plan aimed to remove constraints on business environment, which was discussed during a sitting of the working group in charge with regulating the entrepreneurship. The plan was featured and worked out after an in-depth analysis of the multitude of constraints and problems faced by business environment. Initiatives on improving business environment in 15 areas have been drafted: construction, business start-up, licence issuance, safety of food products, state price regulation, transportation, etc. The plan enounces legislative and normative amendments aimed to prevent double controls in construction sector; revise the list of licensed activities; liberalise the export of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; reduce the VAT etc. The actions foreseen by the plan are scheduled for late 2009 — 2010, after the Government adopts it.

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