Justice Ministry ready to make public costs of justice sector reform

The plan of action for implementing the justice sector reform strategy was drafted and the costs that will be incurred to carry out the planned activities were determined and will be soon submitted to the Government for approval, Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim said in a meeting of the Chisinau Press Club, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the minister, the working out and approval of the justice sector reform strategy for 2011-2016 and of the plan of action represent preconditions for receiving the financing of €52 million promised by the EU. “The EU will offer the money as budgetary support. The European Commission will direct the money to the state budget and then the Ministry of Finance will disburse it to different subdivisions of the justice sector over 2013-2015, in accordance with the set budget procedures and depending on the results achieved by these subdivisions in implementing the reform,” said Oleg Efrim. He also said that next April or next autumn, the EU will allocate €10 million in technical assistance for implementing the first stage of the justice sector reform strategy. An estimated €124 million will be needed to reform the justice system during five years. “Initially, we put the costs at about €150 million, but then agreed that the legislation will be adjusted with the effort of our employees and experts. If foreign experts are needed, we will ask the donors to provide smaller amounts additionally. There are donors that are ready to provide this assistance,” said the minister. “Thus, the EU will offer €52 million plus €10 million in technical assistance. The United States promised to give US$8.5 million for the reform of the justice sector. The rest of the money will be earmarked in the state budget. We must invest our own money as well as we will better monitor how it is spent and what results are achieved.” Oleg Efrim said most of the money will go to create the infrastructure of the justice system – to construct and reconstruct penitentiaries, remand centers, and the Palace of Justice, to modernize and outfit the local courts of law. Before submitted to the Government, the plan of action and the related costs will be reviewed.