Forum in Chișinău: rule of law - central to reforms and European path

Rule of law and justice reform remain central pillars of the modernization of the Republic of Moldova and its European integration path. These are the messages conveyed by officials, including Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu at the Forum - Justice Reform and Combating Corruption.

The forum organized by the Legal Resources Center from Moldova (LRCM) brought together in Chișinău state representatives, ambassadors, judicial employees, and civil society members.

In the opening of the event, Munteanu stated that justice reform is a priority for the Government to increase citizens' trust, ensure the country's economic development, and integrate the Republic of Moldova into the European family.


"Our citizens deserve a justice system in which they have full confidence - independent, swift, incorruptible, and accessible. This is not just a political promise. It is a state obligation and an essential condition for Moldova's accession to the European Union," he stated.


The Prime Minister stressed that justice reform remains the foundation of Moldova's development, and in recent years, bold steps have been taken. The main steps involve strengthening judges' independence through constitutional amendments, eliminating political influence from the Superior Council of Magistracy, launching extraordinary integrity assessments, and initiating Supreme Court reform. All these advances were confirmed by the European Commission Report in 2025.

The European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Iwona Piorko, noted that justice remains one of the key areas for completing the European integration process and reaffirmed the EU's unwavering support for the initiated reforms.


"The Republic of Moldova stands at a crossroads: between a past marked by corruption and illegalities and a future where justice is not a privilege, but a right for all," said Iwona Piorko.


The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Fred Duijn, pointed out that the success of justice reforms and the fight against corruption largely depends on the citizens' and political class's will to support long-term changes.

LRCM President Ilie Chirtoacă highlighted the crucial role of civil society in the justice reform process, noting that the sustainability and irreversibility of reforms depend on constant cooperation between authorities and non-governmental organizations.

Minister of Justice Vladislav Cojuhari conveyed a comprehensive message about the importance of justice in the architecture of reforms and the European integration process.


"Justice is not just a sector of public administration but the foundation upon which all other reforms are built. Without independent, effective, and credible justice, we cannot talk about economic development, investments, protection of fundamental rights, or a genuine European future. Justice reform cannot be achieved in isolation or in the short term - it requires strong political will, active citizen involvement, a real and constant dialogue with civil society, and continuous support from international partners, especially the European Union. We desire a judicial system that provides trust to people, ensures predictability, and has clear rules. We are talking about justice that treats every citizen with respect, professionalism, and empathy and guarantees equality before the law. The European integration of the Republic of Moldova is not possible without rule of law, and the rule of law cannot exist without strong, modern, and irreversibly reformed justice," stated Vladislav Cojuhari.


The Forum - Justice Reform and Combating Corruption is at its seventh edition, taking place over two days. This current edition addresses topics such as aligning the justice reform framework to the National EU Accession Plan, digital justice, external justice evaluation, results of combating corruption, and recovery of illicit assets.