Defending democracy in Moldova at center of Moldovan president’s talks in Strasbourg

President Maia Sandu, during her visit to Strasbourg, has had meetings with senior officials of the Council of Europe, including President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Petra Bayr, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, President of the Venice Commission Marta Cartabia, as well as President of the European Court of Human Rights Mattias Guyomar.

The discussions focused on Moldova’s progress in strengthening democracy, reinforcing the rule of law and upholding human rights—key priorities for citizens and essential conditions for the country’s European Union accession process. President Maia Sandu reiterated the authorities’ firm commitment to continuing justice reform, combating corruption and strengthening state institutions.

At the same time, the head of state drew attention to increasingly complex threats to democracies in Europe, including foreign interference, attempts to undermine electoral processes and information manipulation. In the context, the Moldovan president emphasized the need for effective tools that enable democracies to defend themselves without compromising democratic principles.

President Maia Sandu expressed appreciation for the Council of Europe’s constant support, including the expertise of the Venice Commission and the role of the European Court of Human Rights, underlining the authorities’ commitment to aligning national legislation with European standards and implementing the Court’s judgments.

The head of state’s visit took place in the context of Moldova holding the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as of  November 2025 till May 2026.