European Partnership Fair for Civil Society Organizations held in Chisinau

Nongovernmental organizations from 10 countries are talking part in the European Partnership Fair for Civil Society Organizations in Chisinau on June 15 and 16. “The work of the civil society, especially its cooperation with the Government, is very important for Moldova’s development,” Minister of State Victor Bodiu said at the opening of the event, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The minister stressed that the Government created the National Participation Council and worked out the National Strategy for Civil Society Development in partnership with the civil society. In his welcoming speech, the deputy head of the Foreign Ministry’s European Integration Department Eugen Caras said the civil society plays an important role in the European integration process, stressing that a session of the event is centered on European integration. Carlos Hernandez Ferreiro, executive director of the European Partnership for Democracy, approved of the development of the civil society in Moldova, underlining the necessity of strengthening the NGO sector in the Transnistrian region. The head of the public association “Promo-Lex” Ion Manole said the civil society showed it is a force that can change many things in a society. The European Partnership Fair for Civil Society Organizations is organized by Promo-Lex, East-Europe Foundation and European Partnership for Democracy. The aim of the event is to bring European institutions and backers to Moldova to strengthen democracy and support the country’s pro-European course. The fair is attended by civil society representatives from Moldova, Romania, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The program includes seminars and workshops to exchange experience.