Moldova's liaison prosecutor to The Hague to have regulated status

The MPs on 10 July adopted a draft regulating the status of Moldova's liaison prosecutor at the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust). The document was developed by the Ministry of Justice and aims to strengthen international cooperation in the field of criminal justice.

The new law defines the responsibilities, rights and working conditions of the liaison prosecutor, who will be selected through a public competition organized by the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP) and will be seconded for a period of five years under order of the Prosecutor General. Candidates must have at least seven years of professional experience and advanced English language skills.

The legislative draft also introduces additional guarantees to strengthen the independence of the Prosecutor General, including clear criteria for appointing prosecutors in cases of offences, expanding disciplinary notification powers, and new evaluation procedures for prosecution inspectors.

According to the authors, regulating the activities of the liaison prosecutor will contribute to more efficient joint efforts to combat cross-border organized crime and will enhance the collaboration with European institutions.

Moldova signed a Cooperation Agreement with Eurojust in 2015, being among the first non-EU states to take this step. At present, the liaison prosecutor is appointed temporarily, on a part-time basis, by order of the Acting Prosecutor General as of 2024. Eurojust is located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.