Within the framework of an assessment of existing mechanisms for the integrity checking of judges, the “Action against corruption in the Republic of Moldova” held a series of online consultative meetings with key actors in this area. From December 2020 to January 2021, the representatives of the Superior Council of Magistracy and its professional boards, Ministry of Justice, National Anticorruption Centre, National Integrity Authority, National Institute of Justice, civil society organisations and journalists participated in the meetings and provided input to the assessment.
The findings will feed into a technical paper, reviewing the current competences of the Superior Council of Magistracy and its professional boards to verify the professional integrity of sitting and candidate judges. The analysis will also consider the possibility of setting-up a system for verification of assets and integrity of candidate judges during their enrolment at the National Institute of Justice and the need to consolidate coordination among state institutions empowered to supervise the integrity of public officials. The assessment results will be discussed with the national stakeholders at an upcoming online roundtable meeting.
Overall, the aim of this activity is to facilitate the implementation of pending recommendation ix from GRECO’s Second compliance report of Fourth Evaluation Round on the Republic of Moldova and to support the implementation of the country’s Strategy for Ensuring Independence and Integrity of Justice Sector (2021-2024). The Strategy identifies improvement of the national mechanism for selection and promotion of judges in the Republic of Moldova as one of the priority areas.
This activity was organized within the framework of the “Action against corruption in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Department of State and implemented by the Council of Europe.