CNA and Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office to have new powers

A draft law granting new powers to the National Anticorruption Center (NAC) and the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, aimed at strengthening mechanisms to combat corruption and organized crime was approved today by the parliament’s legal committee on rules and immunities.

The legislative initiative, drafted by the Ministry of Justice, seeks to more clearly delineate the responsibilities of institutions in charge of investigating economic and corruption-related crimes.

According to the draft, the NAC will exclusively investigate serious cases of banking fraud in which the damage exceeds the threshold of 250 average monthly salaries in the economy. Cases involving smaller damages will remain under the jurisdiction of the tax authorities.

The authors state that this change will allow the NAC to focus on complex cases, including those involving external funds and resources from the European Union budget. At the same time, the institution will be granted the competence to investigate money laundering as a standalone offense. In the context of expanding the NAC’s responsibilities, the draft provides for the creation of an additional position of deputy director and limits the director’s mandate to a maximum of two terms.

The proposed amendments also concern the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, which will lead criminal investigations in high-level corruption cases involving senior officials, including the president of the country, the speaker of Parliament, MPs, members of the Government, judges, and the leadership of key state institutions. According to the authors, these changes are necessary to ensure independent and specialized investigations, to prevent conflicts of interest, and to strengthen public trust in state institutions.

The draft also aims to improve the efficiency of the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases, which will focus on cases related to terrorism, the activities of criminal organizations, and other exceptionally serious offenses.

Additionally, the document introduces new rules on the formation of joint investigation teams in complex cases and clarifies procedures for appealing preventive measures imposed by the courts.