EU4Moldova: most awaited project's results announced

As the "EU4Moldova: Facility to support the health response to the COVID-crisis and Association Agreement related Reforms, Objective 3: Enhance transparency, accountability of and access to the judiciary system" (ETAAJS) project draws to a close, a comprehensive Report on Court Monitoring Data Analysis along with tailored recommendations for decision-makers and stakeholders in the Moldovan justice sector was announced. This significant milestone was marked by an official launch event held on November 7, 2023, at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova.

The event was distinguished by the presence of Mr. Jānis Mažeiks, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, Ms. Veronica Mihailov-Moraru, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Sergiu Caraman, Acting President of the Superior Council of Magistracy, Mr. Dorin Popescu, President of the Moldovan Bar Association, alongside representatives from the judiciary, the justice sector, associations and academic  institutions and prominent Moldovan experts. The speakers emphasised that The Report is a very important toll, playing an essential role in facilitating sustainable changes and guiding future reforms within the justice sector.

The ETAAJS project involved extensive monitoring of judicial processes within the Republic of Moldova, offering a comprehensive overview of the monitoring activities carried out to assess the adherence to fundamental rights during court proceedings within the Moldovan judicial system. The monitoring was carried out on the basis of a methodology which sets out various monitoring methods and tools: survey, focus groups, in-depth interviews with experts in the field, monitoring of the quality of court hearings and court decisions. The data underwent comprehensive analysis conducted by a team of proficient Lithuanian experts, who produced an exhaustive report on the results of the monitoring exercise. This document not only outlines the identified issues but also provides carefully crafted recommendations for decision-makers within the justice sector. These recommendations are designed to facilitate proactive measures in addressing the challenges identified during the monitoring process.

The Action Enhance transparency, accountability of and access to the judiciary system is jointly co-financed by the European Union and the budget of the Republic of Lithuania (allocated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania) and is implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) and Expertise France (EF).