Moldova judicial reform faces delays in vetting and staffing

At the eighth Forum on Judicial Reform and Combating Corruption in Chișinău, Moldovan President Maia Sandu addressed delays in the nation's judicial vetting process. Sandu noted that while the external evaluation of judges has progressed, the verification of prosecutors is facing significant delays. She acknowledged that the reform of the National Institute of Justice began too late, which has contributed to a critical shortage of qualified, young, and integral personnel to fill vacancies left by those who departed during the evaluation or failed integrity checks.

European Union Ambassador Iwona Piórko emphasized that Moldova's progress toward EU accession is directly tied to the success of these judicial reforms and anti-corruption efforts. While praising the consolidation of governance and improved selection mechanisms, Piórko highlighted the ongoing challenge of a critical staff deficit within the courts and the high workload facing the system. She stressed that these reforms are essential not only for European integration but to build a system that citizens can trust.