GRECO: Moldova Is Making Slow Progress in the Fight Against Corruption

The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) notes that Moldova has made some progress in preventing corruption, but reforms are not progressing fast enough. According to a new report, of the 25 recommendations previously made to the Moldovan authorities, only 7 have been fully implemented, 12 have been partially implemented, and 6 have not been implemented at all, reports nordnews.md. The report highlights a number of persistent problems, including conflicts of interest, a lack of regulation of lobbying activities, insufficient post-employment restrictions, and a decline in the transparency of public consultations. At the same time, GRECO notes some positive changes, including the strengthening of the powers of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, improvements to the internal mechanisms of the National Integrity Authority, and an increase in the representation of women in the police and border guard services. For its part, the Ombudsman’s Office states that the report also highlights issues previously raised by the institution concerning access to information of public interest and the protection of whistleblowers. According to the Office, the authorities continue to provide incomplete responses to requests for information or cite data protection as a reason to refuse to provide it. The institution also reports gaps in legislation and the inconsistent application of mechanisms to protect whistleblowers. The Ombudsman’s Office states that it will continue to monitor progress in ensuring transparency and integrity in the public sector of the Republic of Moldova.