If reforms are accelerated, Moldova will be freed from monitoring sooner, Council of Europe official

The greater the progress made by Moldova in implementing the planned reforms, the sooner will it be freed from the monitoring of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Council of Europe Director General of Democracy and Political Affairs Jean-Louis Laurens said in a news conference in Chisinau, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to the European officials, Moldova has not yet fulfilled the promise to transfer the remand centers from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Justice. “I was a witness to what can happen in these places and I consider this transfer of functions must be hastened. In fact, it is also a financial matter as there will be built arrest homes. This is a relevant example of how we can cooperate with Moldova and transmit a message to the Parliamentary Assembly so that it lifts the monitoring and switches over to the post-monitoring stage,” said Jean-Louis Laurens. In the same news conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said the closing of the monitoring stage would be a symbolic gesture pointing to the recognition of the progress made. However, it is more important that Moldova fulfills the commitments made to the Council of Europe and its institutions. The fulfillment of these commitments contributes to the modernization of Moldova, the creation of a system of functional institutions, etc. “Together with the relevant institutions, we worked out a plan of action for honoring the commitments. This plan incorporates a broad program of activities in different areas. It is a rather extensive program based on the resolutions and recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly,” said the Foreign Minister. Speaking about the remand centers, Iurie Leanca said that during the discussions with the Council of Europe Director General of Democracy and Political Affairs it was agreed to convene a meeting with potential donors to consider building arrest houses that will meet the European standards.