Financial Crime World

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Moldovan Integrity Agencies Face Common Challenges with Romanian Counterparts

Chisinau/ Marie/26, 2024 - The Republic of Moldova’s integrity agencies are facing similar challenges to their Romanian counterparts in verifying wealth declarations and assessing integrity. According to a recent analysis, both countries struggle with the same issues, including:

  • Media reports of undeclared assets abroad by dignitaries or civil servants
  • Lack of legal competence to verify beneficial ownership
  • Insufficient access to information on amounts used in gambling

The analysis also highlighted that those required to declare their wealth often register unexplained assets in the names of relatives or friends, and there is a lack of harmonized legal framework, creating ambiguity and unpredictability. Additionally, integrity agencies are subject to constant pressure to discredit them, and non-unitary jurisprudence affects the credibility of institutions.

Overcoming Risks and Challenges

To overcome these risks and challenges, the Republic of Moldova has defined strategic targets, including:

  • Developing a new organizational structure responsible for risk analysis by categories of wealth declaration subjects and types of wealth
  • Collaborating with CRJM to improve work methodology

International Cooperation

In related news, Dr. Tilman Hoppe and Dr. Felix Lüth have argued that the EU should join the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset declarations, which would strengthen the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova and other countries.

Strategies for Strengthening the Rule of Law

To strengthen the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova, experts recommend implementing strategies such as:

  • Establishing prohibitions on occupying public positions or public dignity due to conflicts of interest and incompatibilities while respecting the principle of proportionality
  • Improving access to information on amounts used in gambling
  • Rationalizing incompatibilities across various professional categories
  • Unifying practices or clarifying legal text to prevent non-unitary jurisprudence
  • Reducing judgment periods for cases involving integrity agencies

National Integrity and Anticorruption Program

The Republic of Moldova’s National Integrity and Anticorruption Program for the years 2024-2028 outlines specific targets to achieve these goals, including:

  • Extending verification to include expenses, virtual assets, and assets of beneficial owners

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Republic of Moldova’s integrity agencies face similar challenges to their Romanian counterparts in verifying wealth declarations and assessing integrity. To overcome these risks and challenges, it is essential to implement strategies for strengthening the rule of law, including anti-corruption measures, asset recovery, and confiscation of unexplained wealth. By doing so, the country can ensure transparency and integrity in public office and promote a culture of accountability and ethics among public officials.