Strasbourg, 20.11.2024 – The Committee of Ministers, representing the 46 Council of Europe member states, has adopted the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028, drawn-up with the national authorities and civil society organisations.

The Council of Europe will continue to support the Republic of Moldova’s efforts to bring its legislation, institutions and practice further into line with Council of Europe standards in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The action plan will assist the country to implement ambitious reforms that are important for the European Union accession process, including in the areas of rule of law, justice and fundamental rights. The Republic of Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022 and the Negotiation Framework was adopted in 2024.

It will also help the national authorities to address the challenges posed by regional and global crises and to counter the effects of the ongoing war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Under this action plan, the Council of Europe and the authorities of the Republic of Moldova will work together to strengthen the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

It will also support the independence, professionalism and transparency of the judicial system; further improve conditions and treatment of prisoners, and co-operation in the fight against drugs and addictions.

Further support will continue to prevent corruption, enhance the effectiveness of measures against money laundering and terrorist financing, and the implementation of the Budapest Convention against cybercrime.

A number of initiatives will strengthen access to social rights for vulnerable groups, promote gender equality, combat the sexual exploitation of children and align national legislation and anti-discrimination practices with European standards. They will also address the needs of refugees and migrants and contribute to building resilient migration, asylum and reception systems in the long term.

The action plan will further strengthen freedom of expression in the country and promote the alignment of national practices with European standards in the field of the media and the internet. Measures will be reinforced to enhance national capacities for the design and implementation of reforms in the areas of elections, participatory democracy and local dialogue, as well as localisation of human rights, and education for democracy.

This is the fourth Council of Europe action plan for the country since 2013. It builds on best practices and achievements of the previous action plans and opens up new areas, such as the fight against trafficking in human beings, the prevention of drug use and addictions, increased involvement of civil society and youth participation in democratic decision/making.

The overall financing needs for this action plan are estimated to be €30 million.