The Minister of Justice, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru, held a meeting with the new European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, on his first official visit to the Republic of Moldova. The roadmap on the rule of law is an essential benchmark in the negotiation process, said the European official.

At the bilateral meeting, the Minister highlighted priority measures for the justice sector promoted by the ministry to meet both citizens’ expectations and commitments to the European Union. Topics discussed included the transposition of the EU acquis, legislative adjustments, and institutional strengthening in the sector. Among the most ambitious subjects—part of the sectoral reform—special attention was given to the vetting exercise, capacity-building of evaluation commissions, and the strengthening of the Supreme Court of Justice.

“We remain committed with the same perseverance and understanding that a deep reform aimed at the justice system must be handled with care and patience to generate trust, transparency, and stability,” declared the Minister of Justice.

During the discussions, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru emphasized the results achieved by the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors, the formation and start of activities of specialized boards, the ongoing work to unify judicial practices at the Supreme Court of Justice, the strategy to strengthen human resources in the judicial and criminal prosecution system, as well as the increase in professionalism of justice actors.

“We are at an important stage where we benefit from increased efficiency of the institutions created through the 2023 reforms and act decisively to strengthen confidence in the quality of justice. At the same time, we are working on adjusting the legal framework according to the provisions of the Roadmaps on justice, anti-corruption, and human rights (Chapters 23 and 24) for EU accession,” added the Minister.

For his part, the European Commissioner expressed support for Moldova’s European path, emphasizing that its future lies within the European Union.

“The roadmap on the rule of law is an essential benchmark in this process, and we will work closely to implement priority reforms in justice and combat corruption. Moldova is not alone in this endeavor—we are alongside it at every step,” said Michael McGrath.

At the same time, Veronica Mihailov-Moraru reiterated the authorities’ commitment to advancing the modernization of the judicial system in line with the best international standards and expressed gratitude for the constant support from the European Union. “The quality of justice is a crucial objective for the Republic of Moldova on its European path, and we focus on delivering tangible and sustainable results,” concluded the Minister.