President Maia Sandu said the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 will further follow the direction set by the previous efforts. The document’s major goals are the fight against corruption and the justice sector reform. The Action Plan also aims to increase the responsibility and independence of the judicial system and to develop the capacities of the law enforcement agencies to fight corruption and money laundering. The statements were made in the official launches of the document in witch Maia Sandu took part, IPN reports.

President Sandu noted the Action Plan for 2021-2024 contains solutions for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including interventions for defending the human rights in the health sector and strengthening the autonomy of the local administration. Given the pandemic, the assistance offered to overcome the social consequences of the crisis is welcome.

“Moldova has had a very productive relationship with the Council of Europe since it joined the organization in 1995, which was like an academy of democracy for my country that is in a post-Soviet transition period. With the assistance of the Council, we adopted laws, laid the basis for new key institutions and educated the citizens in the spirit of the respect for the rule of law and for the human rights and freedoms. We are very grateful for this support. However, as you know, we have yet a lot to work,” stated Maia Sandu.

“The new Action Plan comes to reaffirm the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to intensify our cooperation with the Council of Europe and our intention to continue the changes in the country. I wish success to the teams that will implement this new document. The Council of Europe has always been near our country during the past 26 years as a reliable partner, a guarantor of the European values and freedoms, a host for open and honest debates. This relationship of partnership is very valuable to us.”

Launched on April 19, the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 is a strategic programming instrument that aims to bring the Republic of Moldova’s legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. Under this Action Plan, the Council of Europe and the Moldovan authorities have agreed to carry forward jointly, through co-operation projects, reforms initiated in the past in areas such as the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights’ case law at national level.

The overall budget of this Action Plan is estimated at €13.7 million.