A project launched today by the European Union and the Council of Europe aims to support fight against corruption and against crime in Moldova, with highlights including the creation of an agency to recover proceeds of crime, and efforts to enhance transnational cooperation. Other goals include strengthening civil society and investigative journalism, IPN reports.
During the ceremony held to inaugurate the “Controlling Corruption through Law Enforcement and Prevention” (CLEP) Project, Deputy Justice Minister Nicolae Esanu stated that qualitative changes are needed, and the ongoing central administration reform is one of the last chances that our country has to implement fundamental reforms. “It is very important to continue cooperation with our external partners, but we also need to shift the priorities if we don’t want to throw money away. If we put law enforcement on the first burner, there is a strong chance for success”.
EU Ambassador Peter Michalko recalled that fighting corruption and money laundering is among the priorities of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. Corruption sets back governance and democracy in sectors such as policing, customs service, tax administration, education and so on. The general public should be confident in the institutions that participate in these important processes, the diplomat said.
Prosecutor General Eduard Harunjen said that the CLEP Project offers opportunities to develop the capacities of the prosecutorial service in combating corruption, money laundering and terror. “Another expectation from the project is that it will help us consolidate capacities in developing policies, and in cooperating with society to enhance our image and consequently confidence in the law-enforcement”, said Eduard Harunjen, adding that “fight against corruption is not the prerogative of the law-enforcement, but the responsibility of every citizen”.
The project has a duration of three years, until May 2020, and a budget of 2.25 euros, provided by the European Union and the Council of Europe.
