The Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in November 2020 and officially launched in Strasbourg on 19 April 2021 in presence of Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, and Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General. The Action Plan has been developed as a strategic co-operation framework to support key national reforms and ultimately bring the country's legislative and regulatory frameworks, institutions and practice further in line with European standards. The Action Plan is well-aligned with national strategies and policy documents such as the National Development Strategy “Moldova 2030”, the Strategy on Ensuring Independence and Integrity of the Justice Sector (2021- 2024) and its Action Plan as well as the National Human Rights Action Plan.

This new Action Plan will address issues such as legal aid, mediation and reconciliation in criminal matters, fighting drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs, protection of human rights in the health sector and addressing new challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact, particularly on social rights. In addition, the Council of Europe and Moldovan authorities plan to intensify efforts to counter trafficking in human beings, prevent and combat violence against women and enhance local self-government.

 Interview with the DPC Director Claus Neukirch

 

 First Steering Committee Meeting on the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024

 

 Launch of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 in Strasbourg

 

 

 Video storytelling on the impact of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova on people in their everyday lives

 

 

 Video on the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova

The Action Plan will continue to tackle issues that were addressed in the second Action Plan (2017-2020), such as the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights’ case law at national level, aligning national legislation and practice concerning anti-discrimination and gender equality with European standards, strengthening the national child protection framework to combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children, enhancing the independence and accountability of the judicial system, improving electoral legislation and practice, reforming the prison system and promoting alternatives to detention, advancing the compliance of national practices with European standards in the field of media and Internet governance, enhancing data protection in the country, developing the capacity of law enforcement and other agencies to respond to corruption and money laundering and increasing dialogue and building confidence between divided communities.

Council of Europe country-specific programmes in the Republic of Moldova are implemented alongside a number of regional joint programmes with the European Union in the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe Partnership for Good Governance II (PGG II). PGG II actions are geared towards enhancing judicial reform, countering discrimination and combatting corruption.

The Action Plan consists of a total of 18 country-specific and regional/multilateral areas of intervention with an overall financial volume of almost 14 million Euros.