Moldova – annual report 2024

Details: Published: September 4, 2025

Strategic Framework

Legal Policy Starting Point

Following the European Council’s decision at the end of 2023 to start accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova, negotiations officially began in June 2024.

At the same time, important decisions were made in October with the presidential election and the referendum on EU accession. The pro-European Maia Sandu was able to defend her office and remains President. In a very close decision, the majority voted in favour of EU accession, which is to be enshrined in the constitution. The elections were accompanied by accusations of massive election interference from Russia.

Despite these challenging circumstances and a geopolitically complex situation, the Republic of Moldova remains steadfast in its pro-European direction and is focusing its reform efforts on implementing the measures outlined in its action plan: a comprehensive reform of the judiciary, harmonisation of laws with EU law and the fight against corruption and foreign influence.

Overall Concept

In 2024, IRZ once again received special funds from the German Bundestag to support the EU integration of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. The importance of cooperation was underlined by the visit of the then President of the IRZ Board of Trustees and former Parliamentary State Secretary Benjamin Strasser, to Moldova in May 2025 for talks with, among others, Moldovan Minister of Justice Mihailov-Moraru. The EU’s recommendations for the successful accession of the Republic of Moldova, along with the action plan derived from them, serve as the foundation for cooperation. At its core, IRZ focuses on cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the Parliament, the National Institute of Justice and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutors’ Office. In addition to the implementation and reform of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Moldova, for which IRZ played a key role in advising Moldovan partner institutions, key areas of cooperation include the reforms to the penal system and continuous training on current issues such as illegal party financing, cryptocurrencies and cyber hate crime. The latter topic was discussed in trilateral roundtable discussions together with partners from Romania, in order to enable a direct exchange of expertise in the Romanian-speaking region and with German expertise. Thanks to the special funds, the cooperation with the Republic of Moldova was significantly expanded in the reporting year and new partners were involved.

Focus of Activity in 2024

Public Law

Initial training for Moldovan administrative judges and teachers at the National Institute of Justice on the implementation of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Moldova in line with EU standards in Chișinău
Two continuous trainings for Moldovan administrative judges and lecturers of the National Institute of Justice on the implementation of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Moldova in line with EU standards in Chișinău
Two study visits to Cologne and Bonn for Moldovan administrative judges and lecturers of the National Institute of Justice on the implementation of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Moldova in line with EU standards
Continuous advisory support for the Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments, and Immunities of the Parliament and the Superior Council of Magistracy on the reform and application of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Moldova in accordance with EU standards

Administration of Justice

Consultation on the EU Legal Harmonization of the Moldovan Mediation Law (Implementation of Directive 2008/52/EC)
Consultation on the EU Legal Harmonization of Moldovan Lawyer Legislation (Implementation of Directives 98/55/EC and 77/249/EEC) and Drafting an Amendment to the Current Lawyers’ Law
Consultation on the Draft Law for the Introduction of a Lobby Register, Working Meetings with the Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments, and Immunities of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the Legal Committee of the German Bundestag

Criminal and Penitentiary Law

Participation in the Council of Europe workshop on the European principles and standards related to release of life-sentenced prisoners and the application of law on amnesty in the Republic of Moldova
Study visit of a working group on penitentiary law to Lower Saxony on the topic of German and European perspectives and best-practice approaches to progressive penal systems
Two Trilateral Roundtable Discussions on Hate Crime and Hate Speech in Cyberspace: Ensuring Effective Criminal Investigations in Bucharest and Chișinău
Expert opinion on the draft government decree on the assessment and planning of custodial sentences
Training for ministerial officials on the correctional and probation system in compliance with EU standards in Chișinău
Study visit to North Rhine-Westphalia for members of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutors’ Office on fighting corruption, asset recovery, and the role of statistical analysis as well as reporting obligations of investigative results
Training for prosecutors and other members of the judiciary on investigating illegal Party financing in Chișinău
Training for prosecutors, judges as well as financial and IT investigators on cross-border corruption offenses related to cryptocurrencies in Chișinău.

Outlook

In the coming year, cooperation with the Republic of Moldova will continue to focus on support in the area of EU legal harmonisation, particularly on adapting laws related to legal professions and mediation. IRZ also remains committed to assist in further legislative projects in cooperation with Parliament and the Ministry of Justice. In addition, IRZ will continue to support the implementation of the Administrative Code through additional trainings for judges and by providing consultations on the planned reforms to the Code. If necessary, it will also continue its consultations on the Moldovan penitentiary reform and provide additional trainings on the application of the law across various legal fields.