The European Union offered Moldova the first tranche of €15 million from the total budget support of €60 million for continuing the reforms in the justice sector, according to the financing agreement signed in Brussels on June 14, IPN reports.

“The process of reforming the justice sector takes place according to the set terms. It is a real challenge, but the implementation of the initiatives that we work out and promote will surely change the people’s perception of the functioning of the legal system,” said Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim.

The EU offers budget support because Moldova is consistent in implementing the justice sector reform strategy, especially by carrying our significant activities. Until now, there were adopted the justice sector reform strategy for 2011-2016 and the plan of action for implementing it. There was created the mechanism for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the strategy and adopted the normative documents needed to implement the Law on Gender Equality, including by creating the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination.

“The EU will continue to offer the necessary support for the started reforms to be implemented by fully observing the European values and standards and this will ensure the strengthening of democracy and the law institutions, will intensify the fight against corruption in the legal system and will ensure the observance of the human rights and good governance,” said Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova.

The other three tranches will be disbursed until 2016.