A Cooperation Protocol in the field of preventing and combating corruption was signed today in Bucharest between the National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and the Anti-Corruption General Directorate (DGA) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) of Romania. The document was signed by the Director of the NAC, Alexandr Pînzari, and the Head of the DGA, Ovidiu-Ciprian Antohe, with the aim of consolidating joint institutional efforts to implement efficient and innovative measures to prevent and combat corruption. The event is part of a 3-day study visit to Bucharest, attended by anti-corruption agencies from the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Italy.

In his speech, the Director of the NAC mentioned that for the Republic of Moldova, the fight against corruption is a strategic priority both in the context of strengthening state institutions and ensuring respect for citizens’ rights, as well as in the sense of fulfilling the commitments assumed in the process of integration into the European Union. " The NAC has made significant progress in the field of combating corruption, which includes exposing systemic corruption schemes, illegal money flows and the interference of criminal groups that have allocated dirty money to divert processes from our country. Recently, the number of corruption cases detected and investigated by anti-corruption officers has increased, and the efficiency of criminal prosecution processes has improved, thanks to the use of modern investigative techniques and tools, as well as close international collaboration. We want to continue this cooperation with colleagues from Romania, but also from other countries, especially on cases involving the cross-border component", pointed out Alexandr Pînzari.

During the three days, experts in the field addressed several important topics in theoretical and practical sessions on the investigation and prosecution of complex corruption cases, the identification and confiscation of virtual assets, and strengthening the capacities of practitioners to address the emerging threats posed by virtual assets in illicit financial flows. The NAC delegation had a series of meetings with representatives of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), the Anti-Corruption General Directorate (DGA), and the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), during which it was agreed to continue the exchange of information in the context of detecting and investigating corruption offences, as well as the implementation of other joint projects.

The platform that brought together anti-corruption agencies in Bucharest is organized within two projects: " Supporting Anti-Corruption Efforts of the Government of Moldova" and " Innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets", implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.