The "Study on the capacity of the national asylum system in the Republic of Moldova", conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of the Council of Europe, was presented in a dedicated workshop. The event was attended by Falk Lange - Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, Jana Costachi - State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, experts in the field, as well as representatives of state institutions and civil society organisations.

“States, including the Republic of Moldova, have a responsibility to receive asylum seekers in a dignified manner, ensuring that their case is examined and resolved fairly and efficiently. The development and implementation of a clear and coherent asylum policy, balancing the rights and obligations of persons in need of international protection, must be a priority”, said Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau.

The study identifies the main shortcomings and challenges of the national asylum system in the context of harmonisation with the EU regulatory framework on asylum. It also provides recommendations for the improvement of the national regulatory framework in line with international and European standards in the field of asylum and human rights. The main recommendations, inter alia, include: the need for the assessment of the public authorities' response capacity to mass arrivals of foreigners in crisis situations, including the evaluation of the legislative framework; the development of operational standards in the field of asylum, taking into account a human rights-based approach; the assessment of the risks and benefits when implementing modern digital solutions in the asylum procedure, and the need to strengthen the knowledge and skills of asylum officials through general, specific or thematic training activities.

The Study on the capacity of the national asylum system in the Republic of Moldova was conducted in the framework of the Project “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova”, funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024.