Moldova's judicial system to get unprecedented high budget for 2013

In order implement the Justice Reform Strategy, the budget bill for next year approved by the Government provides for 55% greater funding for the justice system, making it the highest budget ever received by the Moldovan judicial system. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Vlad Filat at a meeting with the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), reports Info-Prim Neo. According to a communiqué from the Government, the Premier underlined that the justice system budget will not exceed the educational one. “We cannot have well-trained judges and prosecutors without investing into education”, said Vlad Filat. The Prime Minister stated that Moldova consistently follows its European integration agenda. “Our goal is to achieve, as fast as possible, the signing of the European Union Association Agreement, have a liberalized visa regime, as well as a deep and comprehensive free trade”, said the Prime Minister. Vlad Filat added that Moldova is looking to promote from the Council of Europe's monitoring phase to the post-monitoring one. Piotr Wach, PACE rapporteur and member of the European People's Party group, said that Moldova's oprogress is closely watched by the Council of Europe. Another subject of the discussion was the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. The interlocutors exchanged views on the recent progress made in this process. Piotr Wach in particular praised the confidence-building activities between the two sides of the Nistru.