EU Enlargement and Moldova: Commitment to Rule of Law and Justice Reform
EU Enlargement and Moldova: Commitment to Rule of Law and Justice Reform

Author(s): Andrea Mazelliu
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: EU enlargement; Moldova; Justice reform; Vetting process; Rule of law; Pre-vetting; SCM; SCP
Summary/Abstract: One year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU granted the candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, while putting Georgia on hold towards the EU membership. In Moldova’s commitment to faster integration into the EU, the country is facing challenges in reforming its justice system and establishing new judicial institutions. Moldova is undergoing justice reform as one of the main steps toward EU integration, with vigorous efforts to further strengthen the rule of law and combat corruption in the justice system. In 2020, following EU recommendations and support, Moldova’s pro-European government ventured into “uncharted waters” by initiating the vetting reform of the justice system, aiming to establish a rule of law country that aligns with EU standards. This paper will thoroughly examine the ongoing justice reform that Moldova is carrying out as part of its efforts to integrate into the EU. This paper will methodically analyze Moldova’s vetting process and justice reform, comparing it with models from countries like Albania to identify potential challenges. It will highlight the ongoing development of the rule of law because of these reforms in safeguarding judicial independence and establishing the state of democracy, while also assessing their impact on constitutional stability and the challenges highlighted by the integration process.

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