As the Republic of Moldova advances steadily on its path towards European Union membership, preparing its justice system for the demands of EU law has become one of the most pressing priorities. Against this backdrop, a series of training sessions held in Chișinău from 18 to 27 May 2026 brought together 158 judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the State Chancellery for an intensive week of learning, dialogue and practical exchange.

Organised by the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice, the sessions were designed to deepen participants' understanding of the EU acquis and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), notably through case studies and peer-to-peer exchanges focused on civil, commercial and criminal judicial cooperation and the protection of human rights. These exchanges enabled participants to discuss practical challenges related to the application of EU law and to learn from Romania’s experience in integrating European legal standards into national practice.

During the commercial and civil exchange, participants and trainers discussed practical cases involving two or more countries. They examined the factors that determine which national legislation should apply, highlighting the challenges that can arise when citizens or companies from different jurisdictions are involved.

In the area of criminal justice, participants also examined EU procedural rights standards, relevant CJEU case law and mechanisms for cross-border judicial cooperation through practical case studies and peer-to-peer exchanges. Particular attention was given to procedural safeguards in criminal proceedings and to cooperation instruments used within the European Union, including evidence gathering, extradition and the recognition of judicial decisions.

An additional area explored in-depth during the trainings included the role of the judiciary in safeguarding freedom of expression, the protection of journalists and the role of courts in ensuring the effective implementation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The sessions demonstrated that effective European integration is not only a legislative or institutional process – it is, above all, a question of human capacity. Equipping legal professionals to apply EU law confidently is essential to building a justice system that meets European standards and serves citizens effectively.

The events were organised with the support of the joint European Union and Council of Europe project "Support for Justice Reform in the Republic of Moldova",  the Council of Europe Projects “Strengthening the human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova phase II” and “Advancing Media Freedom in the Republic of Moldova” which are part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2025-2028.