Voted by parliament: Moldova to be able to automatically exchange police data with EU member states

The authorities of Moldova will be able to automatically exchange data with the authorities of the European Union member states, in order to identify wanted persons and assets more quickly and to detect persons involved in cross‑border crimes. The parliament today voted, in the first reading, on the draft law on international police cooperation.

The document was presented by State Secretary Interior Ministry Alexandru Bejan. He emphasized that the exchange of information between law enforcement authorities represented a key opportunity to make the process of preventing and combating crime more efficient.

“This contributes enhancing the level of security of citizens and to aligning Moldova with European standards. Thus, the draft law establishes the conditions and procedures for the exchange of information in the field of police cooperation, including ensuring automated searches of DNA data, fingerprint data, data relating to vehicles, facial images, police records, data related to major events with a cross‑border dimension, as well as information for the prevention of terrorist offences, data for the identification of missing persons, of corpses and their remains, as well as data on travel documents reported as stolen or lost, for the purpose of establishing whether they are being used fraudulently,” said Alexandru Bejan.

The document provides for the establishment of a single point of contact for international police cooperation – a specialized subdivision at the General Police Inspectorate (IGP). At the same time, the government will designate national contact points for different categories of data and information.

The new provisions will also regulate participation in joint patrols and operations, as well as mechanisms of mutual assistance in the case of mass gatherings, disasters or serious accidents with cross‑border impact. Cooperation may include rapid information exchange, coordination of measures and the deployment of personnel and equipment.

A separate chapter of the draft is dedicated to the protection of personal data. All operations for supplying and receiving data will have to be recorded and the National Center for Personal Data Protection will have powers to supervise the legality of their processing, including at the request of the data subjects or ex officio.

The parliament is to consider the draft law in the second reading.