President: Moldova's accession to EU depends first of all on success of justice reform

Chisinau, July 14. /MOLDPRES/- President Maia Sandu said that the justice reform has modest results, even if the political will and popular support to change things in the sector are stronger than ever, the presidential press service has reported.

Maia Sandu said that there is great resistance from some people in the judiciary and anti-corruption institutions to the efforts to clean the judiciary of corrupt elements and strengthen the capacity of the institutions. Stakes of these reforms are enormous - without fair justice, the economy cannot develop and accordingly, people's living standards cannot increase. Without true justice we cannot build a fully functional state that can protect citizens. Equally important - justice reform is the primary condition for the country's accession to the EU.

The statements were made at the launch event of the Justice and Anti-Corruption Reform Activity (JARA), funded with six million US dollars by the USAID.

Maia Sandu thanked USAID Assistant Administrator Erin McKee and US Ambassador to Moldova Kent D. Logsdon for the significant support of about two billion dollars, provided over the last three decades by the US Government and USAID in many important areas, including justice. The head of state appreciated the American partners' contribution to the justice reform, including the extraordinary external evaluation process of judges and prosecutors.

Photo: Presidency