Moldova’s parliament is moving to expand the National Anti-Corruption Centre by 150 posts, raising its ceiling from 359 to 509 staff as part of EU integration reforms, with an estimated cost of about 69 million lei. The wider anti-corruption package also adds powers, creates a third deputy director role, and aims to clarify which institutions handle corruption, fraud and organised crime cases.
Staff expansion plan
According to the report by the newsroom at logos-pres.md, the draft measure would enlarge the Centre’s workforce by 150 positions, taking the maximum staffing level from 359 to 509 employees once the amendments are approved. The outlet says the deadline for implementation is June 2026, and the personnel cost is estimated at roughly 69 million lei, though this may change depending on how quickly the new responsibilities are introduced.
The same report says the draft is tied to Moldova’s commitments on European Union integration, specifically in relation to combating fraud and protecting the EU’s financial interests. It presents the staffing increase as part of a broader reform effort rather than an isolated hiring measure.
Reform package in parliament
As reported by Vladislav Kozhukhar in logos-pres.md, parliament has already approved a wider anti-corruption reform in first reading, with 57 votes, despite a heated debate in the chamber. That package expands and clarifies the National Anti-Corruption Centre’s powers in investigating economic and financial crimes, including fraud that harms the financial interests of Moldova and the European Union.
The same report says the reform adds a new deputy director position, which would bring the number of deputy management posts to three. Draft estimates put the annual labour fund for that role at about 570,750 lei, although MP Liliana Iaconi argued the calculation was too low and said the full annual cost would be closer to 700,000 lei plus mandatory employer contributions.
Leadership and terms
Justice Minister Vladyslav Kozhukhar said the proposals were prepared within a working group and were designed to strengthen management capacity and ensure consistent institutional policy. The reform also gives the Centre’s director the right to serve two terms, a point that drew criticism from some lawmakers.
MP Vasile Tarlev questioned whether the two-term rule was necessary and warned that giving such broad powers to the Centre’s leadership could be dangerous. The report says the debate turned contentious in the conference hall, with MP Vasile Kostiuk’s sound broadcast interrupted during his speech and the speaker threatening MP Oleksandr Vershynin with loss of speaking rights for the next three sittings.
Case allocation changes
The reform package also seeks to draw clearer lines between the National Anti-Corruption Centre, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, and the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organised Crime and Special Cases, known as PCCOCS. Under the new framework, the Centre would take on serious and complex cases of bank fraud and money laundering, while the anti-corruption prosecutor would handle high-level corruption cases.
According to the report, those high-level cases would include investigations involving the President, Speaker of Parliament, deputies, the Prime Minister, the Ombudsman, judges, members of the Superior Council of Magistracy, members of the Superior Council of Prosecutors, and the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Centre and the Security and Intelligence Service. The authors say the purpose is to protect independence, prevent conflicts of interest, and improve public confidence in the system.
Organised crime focus
The same legislative package reduces the anti-organised-crime prosecutor’s workload by removing minor or low-complexity offences from its remit. It would concentrate that office on terrorism, crimes committed by criminal organisations, and other especially serious cases.
The draft also assigns economic, financial and customs cases to the State Tax Service and the Customs Service when the damage does not exceed 50,000 conventional units, under the coordination of PCCOCS where the law allows. In addition, the bill introduces rules for forming joint prosecution teams in complex or large-scale cases so that prosecutors and officers from different bodies can work together more effectively.
EU accession context
The report says lawmakers supporting the initiative describe it as part of Moldova’s European integration commitments and linked to the wider economic growth plan, including anti-fraud measures and the protection of EU funds. MP Ana Kalinic said the reform is essential to fulfil obligations under the accession process.
A separate report from logos-pres.md says the draft National Program for the Modernisation of the Criminal Prosecution and Investigation System for 2026–2027 has also been registered with the legislature. That suggests the staffing increase is being introduced alongside longer-term institutional changes rather than as a one-off adjustment.
Background to the move
The reform follows earlier changes that had already expanded the Centre’s powers, created the third deputy director post and allowed the director to serve two terms. The goal, according to the reports, is to make the anti-corruption system more specialised and better divided between institutions handling corruption, financial fraud and organised crime.
This makes the planned 150-position increase part of a broader restructuring of Moldova’s enforcement architecture, with the government presenting it as a technical and legal response to EU accession requirements. The immediate focus now is on parliamentary approval and implementation by June 2026.
