Defence Staff institutionalized by law in Moldova

The MPs have supported a draft law, in the second reading, aimed at adjusting the regulatory framework in the field of defence, in order to institutionalize the Defence Staff. The amendments are meant to align national legislation with international standards in the area of military planning, command and control.

The legislation optimizes the chain of command and control by institutionalizing the Defence Staff as a distinct central structure, in order to clearly separate operational military leadership from administrative and logistical responsibilities, which remain with the Defence Ministry. This eliminates the risk of parallel decisions being made by the two institutions, particularly in crisis situations.

Other amendments directly concern military personnel. Those who have become eligible for a pension will be able to sign contracts of up to five years, compared with the general two-year term provided for by the Labour Code, in order to retain experienced personnel without affecting employment opportunities for young officers graduating from the Military Academy. Military personnel released from service upon reaching the age limit, who receive a pension and live alone in service housing, may no longer be evicted from it.

Contract-based military personnel released from service upon reaching the age limit, who are entitled to a pension, are exempt from paying the outstanding value of their military equipment. The exemption does not apply repeatedly to those who, after becoming entitled to it, have signed a new military service contract.

At the same time, the period for applying disciplinary sanctions to military personnel will increase from six to 12 months from the date the misconduct was committed, in line with the practice applicable to public service.

The draft law provides for the reconfiguration of the State Commission for Conscription by removing the head of the Civil Service Centre and including representatives of the Interior Ministry — to improve logistical support and territorial control — and representatives of the Education and Research Ministry — to identify young people fit for military service and provide them with civic education.

Other amendments concern the standardization of terminology, as well as the updating of certain institutional structures, so that they correspond to the actual organization of public authorities and reflect the current functions of the Defence Staff.

The draft law was prepared by the Ministry of Defence, in order to adjust defence legislation in the context of the entry into force of the new law on the national defence system (25 August 2025) and two other related laws: the Law on crisis management (1 September 2025) and the Law on national security (4 October 2025).

The new legislative provisions will enter into force three months after publication in the Official Journal.

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