The second Steering Committee meeting of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 was held on 23 January with the participation of national authorities and public institutions involved in the programme of activities, as well as representatives from the Council of Europe.

Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe, and Vladimir Cuc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, moderated the event, aimed at assessing the progress achieved so far in the implementation of the Action Plan.

“Assisting the Republic of Moldova in implementing its democratic reform agenda remains a priority for the Council of Europe, in particular in the context of its EU-accession agenda. Thanks to the strong partnership with the European Union and the support by our member and observer states, we will continue our support in the framework of the current Action Plan for 2021-2024 and further on”, said Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination.

”I think we will all agree on the importance of the Action Plan for national institutions of any level, whose projects are fully connected with Moldova's objectives, including in the context of European integration. The support offered to our country is all the more valuable, periodically adjusted to the challenges we face, including in the context of regional and global crises and the consequences of the war in neighboring Ukraine”, said Vladimir Cuc, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

The Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, Falk Lange, explained the recent developments and achievements in the implementation of the Action Plan 2021-2024,  which set the path ahead for the work of the Council of Europe in the Republic of Moldova contained in the draft Action Plan 2025-2028.

"The implementation of the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova further strengthened the dialogue with the partners within the Council of Europe. One of the most important results obtained following the implementation of the Action Plan is the strengthening of criminal policy. We also obtained several deliverables needed to strengthen the integrity mechanisms. The measures that are promoted in all Council of Europe programmes, help us to ensure better implementation of all the standards of the Council of Europe's monitoring mechanisms on fundamental human rights and justice", pointed out Stela Braniște, deputy secretary of Ministry of Justice.

The public authorities present at the event highlighted the importance of assistance projects implemented by the Council of Europe and their impact on justice reform processes, fight against corruption, support for education for democratic citizenship, combating trafficking in human beings, strengthening the constitutional field, constitutional and electoral studies, preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, support for media freedom and pluralism, local democracy and decentralisation.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration reviewed the priority actions for 2024 in order to implement the Action Plan, such as building capacities for the implementation of new hate speech legislation, improving the implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and promoting transparency of media ownership.

The Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 is a strategic programming instrument aimed at further aligning the Moldovan national legislation, institutions and practice with European standards in terms of human rights, rule of law and democracy. Including 17 areas of intervention, with an overall budget of approximately €24 million, the Action Plan is an instrument to support the Republic of Moldova in fulfilling its obligations as a member state of the Council of Europe.

 Download the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024

 Access the country page on the Republic of Moldova of the Directorate of Programme Co-ordination

 Access the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau website