Moldova adopts legislative package to digitalise the economy

The Moldovan Parliament last week adopted the first legislative package for the digitisation of the economy. The document implements several key actions of the “Roadmap for boosting the digitisation of the national economy and the development of e-commerce”, prepared by the Economic Council to the Prime Minister, with the financial support of development partners.

The set of legislative amendments passed on 11 November aims to achieve maximum impact in the short term, focusing on legislative interventions that will stimulate remote interaction between government, business and consumer.

The law aims to adjust 29 pieces of legislation to overcome existing constraints that limit the possibilities for remote interaction, promoting digital services and electronic identity for entrepreneurs and citizens.

The legislation adopted will allow remote registration of a company, modification of the documents of incorporation or liquidation of the business; the possibility of using electronic signatures in employment relations between employer and employee, including the signing of remote employment contracts; unilateral recognition of qualified advanced electronic signatures issued in EU countries and the possibility to interact with Moldovan authorities at a distance for diaspora and European investors; and the possibility to obtain qualified advanced electronic signatures in Moldovan consulates abroad.

The legislative changes also allow the wide use of electronic documents and the strengthening of the provisions of the Law on electronic signature and electronic document for the benefit of citizens. It also introduces the electronic power of attorney in relations with public authorities, and obliges public institutions, first of all the Public Services Agency and municipalities, to receive electronic documents and issue various documents (decisions, certificates, extracts, permits, etc.) in electronic format as a priority.

At the same time, the amendments will make it easier to register remotely on the public procurement portal and subsequently to carry out electronic public procurement, and regulates the use of electronic documents in other areas of importance to business, including relations with public utility companies (gas, electricity, water/sewerage, communications, etc.). 

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