The examination of public authorities’ reports during Parliament’s plenary sittings remains defective in the exercise of parliamentary control. Despite the legislative provisions making reports compulsory, many of these reports are not subject to examination in Parliament, ascertained experts of Promo-LEX Association.

According to them, the debating of reports in Parliament is not just a formal act, but also an opportunity to identify the needs and challenges in public authorities’ areas of activity and to find effective solutions. “A worrisome aspect is the fact that some institutions, such as the Government’s Agent, the National Bank of Moldova, the National Agency for Energy Regulation and the Deposit Guarantee Fund of the Banking System have never presented during the current legislature their reports in plenary sittings, despite the legal obligation to do so. This lack of transparency and accountability undermines public confidence in the democratic process and in the Parliament’s capacity to exercise control,” notes Promo-LEX.

At the same time, even in the case of authorities that presented reports, shortcomings were identified in the process of complying with the set deadlines and procedures. Under the current legislature, only around 50% of the responsible authorities presented reports in Parliament and most of them in breach of deadlines. In addition, the reports of six authorities were to be debated in a plenary sitting by March 31, but proposals to hear them were not on the agenda of the meetings held in March.

Promo-LEX reiterates its recommendation to adjust the provisions of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure or to include in the draft Code on the organization and functioning of Parliament an exhaustive list of public authorities that are obliged to submit reports to Parliament, together with clarification of deadlines and procedures for presentation.