The European Union has launched the Twinning project „Strengthening the institutional capacities of the Competition Council for the enforcement of competition and state aid policy in line with EU best practices”. The official presentation of the project took place on December 17 and brought together representatives of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, of competition authorities from Romania, Lithuania and Poland, as well as the Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova, alongside delegates from public institutions and members of business associations.

The Twinning Project aims to strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of the Competition Council of the Republic of Moldova to implement the acquis and EU best practices. The project also aims to support the alignment of competition and state aid policy and legislation with European standards.

The main topic of the launch event was the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union, where competition is an important negotiation chapter. In this respect, the Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba said that „Republic of Moldova will need a lot of assistance and mobilization, relying on both the support of the business environment, and constructive cooperation of the institutions. The final objective of all is the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union”.

Radu Marian, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance, thanked the partners for the implementation of the Twinning project, underlining the importance of the competition field for joining the European Union. „This is the central pillar of the European economy and the free market. It is an area to which the Republic of Moldova must work intensively to comply with EU” standards, said Radu Marian. The deputy welcomed the initiative to launch the project and ensured Parliament’s cooperation.

Julda Kielyte, representative of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, declared that the project represents an opportunity for both the Competition Council and the Republic of Moldova. „Privacy and market functioning are fundamental to the European Union. Effective competition ensures the functioning of the European market and a level playing field for business. This project represents an opportunity for the Competition Council to learn from the experience of the European partners, who have gone through the complex process of European accession”, said Julda Kielyte.

The President of the Competition Council, Alexei Ghertescu, expressed gratitude for the support offered by the EU and the participating member countries and underlined that the main task of implementing the project lies with the competition authority, in cooperation with the three partner countries. However, the success of the project also depends on the involvement of all relevant actors, including public authorities, civil society and the business environment.

During the event, the support measures that will benefit the Competition Council within the project were presented. The Twinning Project, with a duration of two years and three months, is financed by the European Union and implemented through a consortium formed by the Romanian Competition Council, as project leader, Competition Council of Lithuania and the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection of Poland as junior partners.

The Twinning Project not only brings European expertise in support of the Republic of Moldova, but also strengthens the role of the Competition Council as a guarantor of effective competition in the market. Thus, he supports the transition of the country to a modern economic model, representing a firm step in the proximity of the Republic of Moldova to the values and standards of the European Union.