The second plan of action of the Council of Europe for the Republic of Moldova for 2017-2020 was launched in Chisinau on May 30. The document has three priority chapters that center on human rights, rule of law and democracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration is the national coordinator of the implementation of the plan, IPN reports.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur, the Council of Europe and the Moldovan authorities within this plan of action agreed to do reforms to improve governance at all the levels, to fight corruption and money laundering, to increase the independence and efficiency of the legal system. The planned measures are aimed at fighting inhuman treatment in penitentiaries, defending the rights of minorities, building confidence between the people living on the two sides of the Nistru, etc.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, who is in Moldova on a visit, underlined the role of the mass media, saying the media outlets should be independent and impartial and should not depend on money and the political factor. “It is important to have political pluralism that would enable the parties to compete with each other based on electoral legislation that would not only ensure just competition in the electoral process, but would also enable the political parties to cooperate if this is needed in the interests of the whole society,” stated Thorbjorn Jagland.

The budget of the plan of action is of €17.8 million. The European Union allocated €3.7 million to Moldova through the bilateral common program with the Council of Europe.