VIDEO // Justice reform and fight against corruption - focus of discussions at international forum in Chișinău

Justice reform and fight against corruption, considered priorities for the Republic of Moldova’s European path are the main topics of the eighth edition of the Justice Reform and Anti-Corruption Forum, which opened today in Chișinău with the participation of President Maia Sandu and EU Ambassador Iwona Piórko.

The forum is organized by the Legal Resources Centre of Moldova (CRJM), with the support of the Soros Foundation Moldova, the New Democracy Fund, the Embassies of the Netherlands and France, as well as other partners. The opening event was attended by President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu and EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Iwona Piórko.



CRJM President Ilie Chirtoacă emphasized the importance of dialogue between justice professionals, authorities and civil society. According to him, the forum provides an opportunity for problems arising in the implementation of laws to come to the attention of those responsible for resolving them.


“Those who draft laws need to hear what happens when these laws are applied. Those who implement them, in turn, must be able to explain where bottlenecks arise, while civil society and journalists must be able to ask questions, including uncomfortable ones,” said Ilie Chirtoacă.


Maia Sandu noted that she attended the first edition of the forum in 2019, when she was serving as prime minister. The head of state spoke about the difficulties involved in reforming the justice system and the need for external integrity assessments of judges and prosecutors.


“The external assessment has already been under way for several years, much longer than we would have liked, and we are still not at the end. We have made more progress in evaluating judges and are more delayed in evaluating prosecutors. We have all seen that vetting is not perfect, but there is no better process,” Maia Sandu said.


According to the president, the reform has contributed to the renewal of the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors, as well as their respective colleges, following the integrity assessments of their members. She also mentioned the ongoing reform of the Supreme Court of Justice, legislative amendments, and efforts to recover assets and money obtained through criminal activities.

Maia Sandu said that justice reforms are being carried out in coordination with the European Union, and that building the rule of law represents one of the Republic of Moldova’s most important commitments in the accession process. She stressed that the results of the reform must be sustainable and maintained both during the accession period and after integration into the European Union.

Iwona Piórko stated that a strong, independent, and accountable justice sector capable of fighting corruption is an essential element of the Republic of Moldova’s European path.


“The Republic of Moldova’s progress toward European Union accession depends on the results delivered in justice reform and the fight against corruption,” the ambassador said.


The diplomat noted that the European Union continues to support justice-sector reforms and stressed the importance of completing the external assessment in a consistent, credible, and timely manner. She also highlighted the role of civil society and independent media in monitoring reforms, identifying shortcomings, and proposing solutions.

The forum will address the priorities of European integration in justice, functioning of institutions, fight against corruption, communication in the justice sector, recruitment and training of new professionals, as well as the independence of the judicial system. Experts from the Republic of Moldova and abroad are participating in the event.