Under this generic, on November 22, 2010, the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of Moldovan-Lithuanian Foundation “Center for the Study of European Integration” and the EU project in Advice of Public Policy, held a round table at Jolly Alon Hotel.
At the event, as experts, participated Mr. Danius Zilinskas, director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Interior of Lithuania and Mr. Margus Kotter, Deputy Chief of Public Order Department of Estonian Ministry of Interior.
In their presentations experts have shared their experience in the field of police reform in the countries they represent, in order to avoid mistakes and shortcomings in the police reform process in Moldova.
"In order to successfully carry out the reform and to achieve the desired result, it has to be done in the complex (eg if the police reforms, it should be viewed as a complex with reform of other law enforcement bodies) and to have political will as support”, Lithuanian representative said.
Thus, in Lithuania has been developed a strategy for the country, which was approved by law, and political actors, whoever is in power, have committed to respect and follow this strategy.
In the terms of organization, the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior is headed by Minister, which is a political position. Police is headed by General Commissioner, which application is submitted by the minister of internal affairs and is nominated by the President. Organizational General Commissioner is not subordinated to the Minister. Therefore it implies demilitarization of the ministry.
Within the ministry also are formed and operate the following subdivisions: Border Guard Service (is military subdivision), the Officials Security Department, anti-corruption Department (it was removed from the police), Fire Department, Domestic Department, Tax Fraud Investigation Department (it was removed from the police).
In Estonia, the police department is represented by police and border guard, which consists of: Border Guard Service (demilitarized), Criminal Police Department (officials security, protection of witnesses, etc..) Public Order Police Department and Citizenship and Migration Department (is responsible for documenting the migration and people with identity documents). Also, there is no State Security Service, embassies security are provided by private security services. It is created desks for receiving requests and complaints from citizens.
Managing of the financial resources in Estonia is centralized and in this way it was started in Lithuania.
Following the roundtable discussions it was concluded that a modern ministry of interior should be responsible for everything that happens within the country, avoiding any duplication of functions and powers between different structures and the experience of Lithuania and Estonia are very relevant, however, Moldova is the path to reforms, fact reiterated and mentioned by both EU experts.
Information and Public Relations Department
22.11.2010