The Plenary of the Romanian Superior Council of Magistracy adopted on Thursday 6 July a declaration on cooperation with the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) of the Republic of Moldova. The document states that “the Romanian Superior Council of Magistracy will contribute its expertise and best practices in specific and strategic areas for the reform of the judicial system in the Republic of Moldova, including through exchanges of experience and assistance in all areas necessary for the harmonisation of legislation”.

“(…) The Superior Council of Magistracy of Romania underlines its concern for collaboration and sustained dialogue, materialized in the support that will be granted for the reform of the judicial system in Moldova, which is at a crucial moment of assuming the European path, following the achievement of the candidate status for accession to the European Union.

Fully understanding the challenges and difficulties that this extensive judicial reform process entails and taking into account the experience gained in the Romanian judicial system, the Superior Council of Magistracy of Romania, including on the basis of the tripartite protocol concluded with counterpart institutions in the Republic of Moldova, will closely follow the work, objectives and projects that the Superior Council of Magistracy of the Republic of Moldova will undertake in this reform context (…).

(…) It will be envisaged to organise joint working meetings of the two councils, to set up working groups on topics of interest identified as priorities in the reform process, to assist in identifying the main directions of action of the Superior Council of Magistracy of the Republic of Moldova, to set reform objectives and the areas in which strategies and work plans should be established in the medium and long term,” the statement said.

The Moldovan SCM claims that “this document will revitalise and strengthen cooperation between peer institutions”.

“(…) The declaration of colleagues from Romania stems from the cooperation agreement concluded earlier, but also from the fact that the Moldovan SCM obtained on 7 June 2023 the status of Observer in the European Network of Judicial Councils (EJN) at the General Assembly of the Network (…).

(…) Last but not least, taking into account the continuous involvement and extensive activity of the Romanian SCM in EJN projects as well as the directions assumed by the Multiannual Activity Plan of the Network, but also the good cooperation of the Romanian SCM with the entities of the Council of Europe projects, priority will be given to supporting the Moldovan SCM in the dialogue and cooperation with them”, the SCM states in a press release.

The Moldovan SCM is “an independent body established for the organisation and functioning of the judicial system and exercises judicial self-administration, being the guarantor of the independence of the judicial authority”.