Moldova: Support to the Pre-Trial Investigation, Prosecution and the Defence Set-Up in Moldova

Details

Published: June 1, 2017

EU Technical Assistance

Team leader: Dr. Gerassimos Fourlanos
Responsible at the IRZ: Nathalie Herbeck, Nadine Spenke

In the spring of 2017, this EU-funded project was successfully completed over a period of 30 months. Among other things, the project developed a draft amendment to the Public Prosecutor’s Act as well as relevant implementing provisions within the framework of the first component “Legislative consultation, strengthening the institutional capacity of criminal law authorities”. The new law has been in force since August 2016 and the most important changes concern the selection of the Prosecutor General, who will henceforth be proposed by a Council of Prosecutors. The project has also advised on the drafting of a code of ethics for the Public Prosecutor’s Office and a law on the organisation of the General Prosecutor’s Office. In addition to the General Prosecutor’s Office, there will only be two specialised public prosecutors’ offices: in the field of anti-corruption and the fight against organised crime. The project has also developed recommendations on anti-corruption measures and the establishment of an anti-corruption department. In 2017, tailor-made further training seminars and training courses for prosecutors and investigating magistrates in the areas of investigation methods, forensics and tax fraud were also held as part of the second component. In order to improve the dialogue between civil society, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the police and journalists, the project also organised three round tables. Furthermore, it initiated a very well received English course for members of the prosecution service. As part of the implementation of the third component of the project “Strengthening public confidence”, three surveys on criminal law were carried out with different target groups and their results presented. The interviewees for this survey included people involved in criminal proceedings, members of the general public and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. The project also provided support for the development of communication strategies and for public appearances. Finally, three study visits were made to Romania and Sweden on topics such as electronic case management, work methodology and implementation of anti-corruption strategies.