Moldova makes strides in anti-corruption efforts, says GRECO
The Group of States against Corruption within the Council of Europe (GRECO) has voiced concern over the frequent use of emergency procedures to pass legislative proposals in Moldova’s Parliament.
GRECO also emphasized the need to bolster the National Integrity Authority’s ability to conduct thorough and effective oversight of regulations on conflicts of interest, incompatibilities, and asset and interest declarations. These conclusions are part of a monitoring report evaluating Moldova's compliance with GRECO’s recommendations.
GRECO concludes that Moldova has fully implemented 13 of its 18 recommendations and partially addressed four others. One recommendation, concerning the introduction of rules for parliamentarians on interacting with third parties seeking to influence the legislative process, has not been implemented.
With respect to parliamentarians, Moldova has made progress in publishing legislative proposals promptly. A draft law on the conduct and ethics of members of parliament has passed the first reading, and requests to lift the immunity of MPs suspected of corruption-related offenses have been accepted as a matter of practice.
The report highlights that all GRECO recommendations concerning judges have been implemented. The vetting process for judging candidates has produced positive outcomes. The Superior Council of Magistracy is now operational and continues to issue well-founded decisions on judges’ appointments, transfers, and career advancements.
Other positive measures noted in the report include the introduction of integrity assessments for trainee judges, requiring them to submit declarations of assets and interests. Moldovan authorities have also addressed delays in case processing and published information on court activities. Additionally, progress has been made in revising the legal framework for disciplinary actions against judges, and annual reports now include statistics on such actions.
"In terms of prosecutors, an autonomous specialized inspection unit has been established, and its capacity is expected to be strengthened in the future. Decisions on disciplinary cases have been well-reasoned and published, while disciplinary offenses appear to have gained clarity and precision. However, GRECO regrets the lack of progress in changing the composition of the Superior Council of Prosecutors, as the Minister of Justice (at least until 2026) and the President of the Superior Council of Magistracy will continue to serve as ex officio members," the GRECO communiqué states.
The adoption of this monitoring report concludes the fourth round of the compliance procedure regarding the Republic of Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
