According to the Chairman of the National Defence Committee Mati Raidma the demand for the Estonian experience and know-how is increasing in the state institutions and administrative agencies of Moldova. “We are very happy we can contribute to making the work of the Parliament of Moldova and its committees more effective. Functioning and balanced distribution of power between the parliamentary and executive powers is an important element of consolidated democracy,” Raidma said. Sharing the experience and know-how of Estonia with the states oriented towards the integration with the European Union is of vital importance to both the target country and the donor itself.

 

“The experience of Estonia is of special importance to Moldova, who is also striving to become a member of the common family of Europe,” said Igor Vremea, the Chairman of the National Security, Defence and Public Order Committee of the Parliament of Moldova.

 

At the seminar the members of the Riigikogu and the officials of the Riigikogu Chancellery introduced the parliamentary order of Estonia, the principles and traditions of its work, and also gave an overview of the activities of the National Defence Committee, Legal Affairs Committee and the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee. Besides Raidma, the members of the Riigikogu Kalle Laanet, Jaanus Rahumägi, Enn Eesmaa and Nelli Privalova also spoke about the experience of Estonia. Chairman of the Estonia-Moldova parliamentary group Urmas Klaas hosted the dinner to the foreign guests of the seminar. Within the framework of the seminar the MPs of Moldova visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they learned about the structure and work organisation of the Ministry, Security Police, and the Police and Border Guard Administration. The representatives of the citizens’ associations of security sector from the International Centre for Defence Studies and the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association also participated in the seminar.

 

The seminar “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight in Moldova: Lessons Learned in Estonia” was organised in cooperation by the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), and co-financed by the Riigikogu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and DCAF. Pursuant to the strategy of the Development Programme of Estonian Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid for 2006–2010, Moldova is one of the four priority partner states of Estonian development cooperation. The priority spheres in supporting Moldova are the development of good governance and democracy, and promoting the educational sector, economic development and sustainable development.

 

 

The Riigikogu Press Service