The participants of the Summer School 2026 in Burcuta, Republic of Moldova
Moldova
In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has taken an important step towards European legal harmonisation by reforming its administrative law. The Administrative Code, which came into force in 2019, is largely modelled on the German VwGO and VwVfG and presents the judiciary, the administration and young legal professionals with new challenges in its practical application.
Against this backdrop, the second IRZ Summer School 2026 took place in Burcuta from 5 to 10 July 2026, organised jointly with the State University of Moldova (USM). Around 20 young students and trainee lawyers from across the country took part in the programme, which dealt in depth with the fundamentals and practical application of the Administrative Code.
Through specialist lectures and interactive exercises led by a German-Moldovan team of trainers, the participants explored key issues in administrative procedure and procedural law. Particular emphasis was placed on practical case work, which directly linked theoretical knowledge to its application in specific case scenarios. A lively panel discussion with guests from the Moldovan judiciary and administration also provided direct insight into Moldovan legal practice.
Furthermore, the summer school offered an introduction to the significance of EU law for the national legal system, as well as discussions on Moldova’s path to the European Union and the associated challenges and opportunities for the country’s legal development.
IRZ would like to thank all participants, the team of experts and its partner USM for an inspiring week full of professional exchange and new insights.
Would you like to find out more about the summer school? Then do take a look at a short video on Instagram and get to know the summer school participants.
Delegation from the Court of Appeal of the Center of the Republic of Moldova visiting the Administrative Court of Cologne.
Moldau
The partnership between the Administrative Court of Cologne and the Court of Appeal Center (Curtea de Apel Centru) in Chişinău, which was established in September, has already gotten off to a practical start. At the beginning of December, a delegation from the Moldovan court traveled to Cologne for five days to deepen the professional exchange on administrative law.
Insight into court practice
The group comprised 15 employees of the Court of Appeal, including assistant judges and two newly appointed judges. The study trip focused on a comprehensive training program on the application of the Moldovan Administrative Code. This code is essentially based on German administrative procedural and administrative process law regulations. The exchange with judges from the Cologne Administrative Court therefore provided valuable practical insights.
The training program was supplemented by a wide range of insights into the work of the Cologne Administrative Court. The guests had the opportunity to observe court hearings, learn about German judicial service law, and visit the historic building at the Appellhof, where the Cologne Administrative Court is located.
At the end of the trip, nearly 30 members of both courts came together for an evening meeting. This collegial exchange provided ample opportunity to share experiences from everyday work, explore questions in greater depth, and strengthen the basis for further cooperation.
Looking ahead
The visit marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, which will be deepened in the future through further specialist events, work shadowing, and joint projects. The new court partnership is also part of IRZ's long-term commitment to supporting the Republic of Moldova in the introduction and practical application of its Administrative Code.
From left to right: Alexandra Albrecht, General Director of IRZ, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Dr. Benjamin Limbach, Minister of Justice NRW
Moldova
The judiciary in North Rhine-Westphalia has traditionally been a close and reliable partner for us in implementing numerous consultations in our partner countries. In the Republic of Moldova, this is particularly true in the area of administrative justice, where experts from North Rhine-Westphalia have been facilitating active exchange for many years.
This was reason enough for a joint delegation trip by IRZ and the NRW Ministry of Justice to the Republic of Moldova at the beginning of September, led by the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Limbach, and IRZ's General Director, Alexandra Albrecht. The trip focused on topics such as the status of judicial reforms and the development of the rule of law. In joint discussions with Moldovan Minister of Justice Veronica Mihailov-Moraru and members of the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, representatives of the National Institute of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council, experiences were exchanged, specific needs were identified and new ideas for cooperation were developed.
In addition, close cooperation in administrative justice was further strengthened by the agreement of a court partnership between the Moldovan Court of Appeal Centre in Chişinău and the Administrative Court of Cologne. The President of the Administrative Court of Cologne, Birgit Herkelmann-Mrowka, and the Interim President of the Court of Appeal in Chişinău, Ghenadie Mîra, thus reaffirm the exchange between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Republic of Moldova, which has been in place for some time. The court partnership is designed for long-term exchange and serves to promote the practical implementation of the Republic of Moldova's new Administrative Code, the drafting and implementation of which the IRZ has supported significantly from the outset.
Minister Dr Benjamin Limbach said: "With the new court partnership, we are supporting Moldova in establishing a transparent and fair judicial system based on the rule of law. Court partnerships are an effective tool for strengthening and consolidating the rule of law because they enable direct exchange at a technical and institutional level. They help to address and resolve very practical issues that arise in everyday court life through personal contact. This creates a cooperation that promotes the EU accession process and embodies the European idea."
