Moldovan president meets European Chief Prosecutor

Chisinau, 12 July /MOLDPRES/ - President Maia Sandu today met European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kövesi. At the meeting, the head of state said that the commitment with which she had come before people – combating corruption – remained the priority of the governmental team, the presidential press service has reported.

„We focus our efforts on the removal of abusive practices in the management of money and public property and on providing the institutions from the justice sector efficient instruments for combating the scourge of corruption. In this way, we can improve the citizens’ relation with the state and can enhance the quality of people’s living,’’ Maia Sandu said following the discussion with Laura Codruta Kövesi. At the same time, the head of state noted that the progress in this field came with more difficulty, especially in the case of investigation of the big corruption or in the identification and recovery of assets transferred abroad.  

„Here, the advancement of the investigations depends on the cooperation with prosecutors from other jurisdictions. We rely on the cooperation between the criminal prosecution bodies from Moldova and prosecutors of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) – the first criminal prosecution institution from EU,’’ Maia Sandu specified. The Moldovan president welcomed the fact that the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) and the European Chief Prosecutor would sign an agreement on cooperation to this end. She noted that the authorities were relying on EPPO’s help in the investigation of the frauds committed by those who flee the Moldovan justice, as well as in the supervision of the use by Moldova of the European funds.    

According to the head of state, Moldova committed to advance in the process of European integration and the work of justice and combating corruption remain decisive on this way. ‘’The rule of law state, efficiency of the justice sector and the state institutions’ capacity to work efficiently, without corruption are decisive on our Euro-integration road. The removal of the scourge of corruption is important, in the context of management of the development funds, which Moldova will access on its way towards EU. The money provided by donors must be used efficiently and honestly, in the interest of the citizens and the country’s modernization, for improving the processes and services provided to citizens,’’ President Maia Sandu added.     

Photo: Presidency