Government representatives, national and international legal experts, members of civil society and development partners met to discuss the improvement of the framework for the recovery and management of confiscated assets as an important step in the fight against organised crime and corruption in the Republic of Moldova. The event, which focused on optimising the processes of identifying, tracing, confiscating, and managing illegally acquired assets underlined the authorities' commitment to dismantling the economic backbone of criminal networks.

During the discussions, international experts highlighted the need to introduce comprehensive civil forfeiture procedures alongside with appropriate tools to compensate crime victims and ensure the social re-use of assets generated by crime. The need for a robust policy framework allowing for optimal management of confiscated assets, their use for social welfare and the direct compensation of those affected by crime was analysed, aimed at using these assets in a way that benefits society.

The establishment of a Confiscation Fund and an independent Confiscation Fund Commission were presented as essential steps towards greater transparency and accountability. These changes would not only increase public confidence in the government's efforts to fight corruption but would also ensure that Republic of Moldova implements mechanisms for the re-use of illicit assets, in line with international standards and best practices in this area.

The event was organised in the framework of the joint European Union-Council of Europe program "Partnership for Good Governance", co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe within the project "Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Regime in the Republic of Moldova".