VIDEO // Republic of Moldova marks 31 years since joining Council of Europe

The Republic of Moldova marks today 31 years since its accession to the Council of Europe, a moment that represented an important step in the country’s democratic path and confirmed its commitment to the fundamental European values – democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Moldova became a full member state of the Council of Europe on 13 July 1995. Accession to this international organization constituted an important stage in the process of strengthening democratic institutions and bringing the country closer to European standards.


“Accession to this organization, on 13 July 1995, was an important moment for the democratic path of our country and the confirmation of its firm commitment to the fundamental values that unite us: democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” the institution’s press release reads.


On the occasion of the anniversary, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova noted that for 31 years, the country’s membership in the Council of Europe has reflected its commitment to the area of common European values.


“Thirty-one years after accession, this commitment continues to reflect the country’s belonging to the area of common European values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” reads the message of the EU Delegation.


According to the European institution, cooperation with the Council of Europe has contributed over time to the modernization of state institutions, the strengthening of justice and the protection of fundamental freedoms.


“Today, the standards and recommendations of the Council of Europe remain important for the reforms of the Republic of Moldova and for bringing the country closer to European values and practices,” the EU Delegation stated.


The Republic of Moldova is part of several mechanisms of the Council of Europe, and the recommendations of the organization play an important role in the processes of justice reform, strengthening the rule of law and protecting citizens’ rights.

The Council of Europe is the main human rights organization in Europe, with 46 member states, signatories of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The Republic of Moldova became the 36th member state of the Council of Europe on 13 July 1995, signing the accession document in Strasbourg. It was the first country within the Commonwealth of Independent States to join the Council of Europe, committing itself to respect the fundamental values of the organization: democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

Over time, the Republic of Moldova has joined more than 100 Council of Europe treaties. The strategic document that defines the dimension of cooperation is the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova. On 12 February 2025, in Chișinău, the Action Plan for the period 2025–2028 was launched, the fourth program of this kind, aimed at supporting democratic reforms.

An important component of the new Plan is supporting national institutions in fulfilling the commitments deriving from the process of accession to the European Union.