The Moldovan Parliament delegation learned about the role of the Croatian Parliament during the EU accession process

During 13-15 December 2022, the EU funded project: “Support for structured policy dialogue, coordination of the implementation of the Association Agreement and enhancement of the legal approximation process” organised a study visit to the Parliament of Croatia, in close partnership with the Secretariat of the Parliament of Moldova. Six staff members from parliamentary committees, the legal department and Speaker’s Office got acquainted with the roles of the Croatian Parliament in the EU accession negotiations, the legal harmonisation process, cooperation between Parliament and Government and monitoring and reporting on the EU-related commitments. 

In particular, the study visit allowed the members of the delegation to familiarise themselves with the roles and responsibilities of the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs. The Croatian Parliament established the European Affairs Committee in 2000, one year before signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The Committee was monitoring the harmonization of the legal framework of the Republic of Croatia with the European Union acquis based on the Government Programme for the Harmonisation of Legislation. 

Keeping political consensus related to EU accession and informing the general public, civil society and media about European integration process was another task of the Croatian Parliament. To this effect, the Croatian Parliament established the National Committee for monitoring the accession negotiations formed by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, five Members of Parliament from the government majority and five from the opposition, representatives from academia, and the Employees’ Association. 

The process of legislative alignment with EU acquis required organisational development and adaptation at all levels of the central government. In order to ensure an effective harmonisation process, the Parliament of Croatia revised its Rules of Procedures. Thus, for EU marked legislation submitted by the Government, the Parliament of Croatia applied a fast-track procedure, adopting EU harmonised legislation in one reading. Prior to approval, the EU Affairs Committee had the task to carry out a compatibility check of proposed legislation.

The national EU coordination mechanism, planning documents used for EU acquis transposition, the role of the Croatian mission to the EU in the accession process and IT tools that facilitate the process were among the topics also discussed during the visit. 

The EU-funded project “Support for structured policy dialogue, coordination of the implementation of the Association Agreement and enhancement of the legal approximation process in the Republic of Moldova” aims at increasing the capacities of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and other key national institutions in implementing the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Agreement.