The Ministry of the Interior of Moldova is being reformed, the changes are seen as a part of the Ministry was demilitarized and there were created bodies responsible for different areas. But there are deficiencies such as the lack of human and financial resources. Those who are in charge of the reform must analyze things well so as to prevent the doubling of the competences of some divisions. In a press club meeting at the IPN, the Foreign Policy Association (APE) presented the study “APE recommendations for the reform of the Ministry of the Interior in 2014” made by Victor Munteanu, director of the Law Program of Soros Foundation Moldova.

APE executive director Victor Chirila said the study was carried out last November and was submitted to the Ministry of the Interior and to international organizations. The author insists that a comprehensive analysis of the reform initiated by the authorities is needed.

The Ministry is recommended to reassess the administrative subordination system and to ensure the prosecution officers’ independence from the superiors. Another recommendation is to assess the work methods and professional activity of the employees of the National Patrolling Inspectorate, with the help of civil society.

Victor Munteanu proposed that the heads of police inspectorates must be named according to clear and transparent criteria that would not leave room for political bias and affiliation. Functional mechanisms should be worked out for combating corruption schemes and criminal activities involving police officers.

The Government is recommended to effectively depoliticize the Ministry of the Interior and the police and to synchronize the reform at the Ministry with the justice sector, security and the prosecution service reforms. The foreign donors should offer the Ministry assistance in implementing the reform based on the experience of other organizations. The donors’ support is mainly needed in such areas as the reformation of the carabineer troops, clarification of the doubled competences and restoration of the community police.

Deputy Minister of the Interior Serghei Diaconu said that 70% of the plan of action for obtaining the liberalized visa regime with the EU was put on the Ministry’s shoulders. The measures were implemented without delays and with good appraisals from European rapporteurs.

The study is made by the APE with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and East Europe Foundation, from the resources provided by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark/DANIDA.