Study visit of the INJ delegation to Malta, to the Judicial Studies Committee and to the European Union Agency for Asylum

A delegation of the National Institute of Justice, made up of representatives of the INJ, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Superior Council of the Magistrates and the Advocates' Law Center, was on a study visit to Malta, between 17-18 April 2024, having a series of meetings with judicial and European institutions. By carrying out this visit, the aim was to initiate an exchange of experiences and best practices between the competent authorities of the Republic of Moldova and Malta, mainly in the field of migration and asylum.

On the first day, the delegation was received at the Judicial Studies Committee (JSC), where it was familiarized with the activity of the JSC and the courts, being presented in detail the procedures relevant to asylum and migration from a criminal and civil perspective. In particular, the INJ representatives were interested in the training programs of justice professionals on the four levels: initial training, continuous training, distance training and trainer training.

A meeting was also held with exponents of non-governmental organizations in Malta to discuss the legal assistance offered on a voluntary basis to refugees, as well as the problems they face.

Next, the INJ delegation visited the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), to learn about the activities and operational support provided by the EUAA in the field of asylum. At the same time, aspects related to the functioning of the EUAA Professional Training and Development Center and the support that the members of the courts benefit from, through the guidelines and practical tools developed by the Agency, were discussed. EUAA representatives showed their openness for the use of these resources by professionals from the Republic of Moldova, as well as for their participation in the training sessions organized within the EJTN network.

The study visit of the INJ delegation is part of the Council of Europe Project "Strengthening the protection of human rights for refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova", implemented within the CoE Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for the period 2021-2024 and carried out in accordance with the CoE Action Plan on the protection of vulnerable people in the context of migration and asylum in Europe (2021-2025), coordinated by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Migration and Refugees.