Policy Dialogue #JusticeForMoldova on Aligning the Three Maps of the Justice System: Courts, Prosecutor’s Offices and Police
Aligning the three maps of the justice system — courts, prosecutor’s offices and police — was the central theme of the public policy dialogue #JusticeForMoldova, organized on Monday, 9 February 2026, by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The event took place at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova and brought together decision-makers, experts and representatives of key institutions in the justice sector.
The dialogue aimed to analyse the impact of recent reforms on the functioning of justice institutions and to identify solutions for more effective coordination between courts, prosecutor’s offices and police, for the benefit of citizens and the rule of law.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Justice Vladislav Cojuhari highlighted the importance of institutional coherence in the reform process:
“Aligning the three maps of the justice system is essential for the coherent functioning of institutions and for strengthening a genuine rule-of-law state. Together with colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we have already worked on the police regionalisation map, and the next natural step is to align it with the maps of prosecutor’s offices and courts. We now have clear data showing that the judicial map reform is at an advanced stage: the new court structures are already operational, and their consolidation is an institutional priority. This reform is not merely administrative; it has a clear objective — a more accessible, balanced and efficient judiciary for citizens. At the same time, justice digitalisation and the development of judicial infrastructure remain key components to ensure lasting reform results. Aligning institutional maps is necessary to avoid dysfunctions and overlaps and to ensure real cooperation among justice sector institutions.”
Daniela Vidaicu, Executive Director of Soros Foundation Moldova, emphasised the human rights dimension of the process:
“The judicial map reform aimed to improve court efficiency, ensure more rational use of resources and promote more coherent judicial practice. Prosecutor’s office reform focused on strengthening institutional capacity, increasing independence and efficiency in combating crime, while police reorganisation sought to enhance operational capacity and bring security services closer to citizens’ real needs. Viewed separately, each reform addresses specific needs; viewed together, they must function as a coherent and well-coordinated system to guarantee every citizen access to fair, equitable and accountable justice.”
IPRE Executive Director Iulian Groza stressed that this reorganisation has a direct impact on access to justice:
“Reorganising the institutional maps of justice is not just an administrative exercise. The way courts, prosecutor’s offices and police are aligned directly influences access to justice, the duration of procedures and the level of public trust. Recent data show that around half of citizens believe the justice situation has improved in recent years, and trust in system actors is increasing. However, significant challenges remain, including those related to the speed and transparency of procedures. That is why this dialogue aims to openly analyse the impact of reforms and, through better institutional coordination and constant dialogue with society, help turn ongoing changes into concrete results for citizens — more accessible, predictable and credible justice.”
The first panel focused on the reorganisation of the justice system map and its effects on institutional functioning. Participants discussed administrative and operational challenges generated by reform, the efficient use of human resources and the need for coordination between different structures within the system.
Speakers included Sergiu Brigai, Acting Deputy Prosecutor General; Aliona Miron, member of the Superior Council of Magistracy; Elena Roșior, member of the Superior Council of Prosecutors; Dumitru Darea, Director of the Agency for Justice Digitalisation and Judicial Administration; and Andrei Zagoreanu, representative of the General Police Inspectorate. The discussion was moderated by Adrian Ermurachi, IPRE Co-Executive Director.
The second panel addressed the impact of recent legislative changes on human rights, focusing on risks, good practices and citizen protection mechanisms in the context of justice reforms.
During the discussion, People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson) Ceslav Panico, along with civil society representatives and experts — Angelina Zaporojan-Pîrgari, Octavian Iachimovschi and Angela Popil — analysed how legislative changes may affect access to justice, protection of fundamental rights and public trust in state institutions. The panel was moderated by Valerii Voleanschi, Programme Officer at Soros Foundation Moldova.
The event concluded with a Q&A session and conclusions regarding the next steps needed to strengthen justice reform in the Republic of Moldova.
For more details, watch the event recording replay online.
The event was organised within the project “Ensuring the Integrity, Efficiency and Independence of Moldova’s Justice System — #Justice4Moldova”, funded by the European Union and co-funded by Soros Foundation Moldova. This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of IPRE. The content reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the European Union.
