On 27^th, May 2025, as part of the annual meeting of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme (Second Contribution), The Minister of Justice attended a working meeting organized at the Ministry of Justice headquarters. The meeting focused on the ”Public Security and Safety Programme (Justice)” (”the Programme”), which is financed by the Second Swiss Contribution and managed by the Ministry of Justice, as the Programme Operator.

The meeting reunited members of the Swiss delegation led by His Excellency, Ambassador Didier Chassot, Deputy Director General, Head of the Europe and Middle East Division within the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Unit, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Finance, as National Coordination Unit, and of judicial institutions which receive Swiss funding.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Justice Mr. Radu Marinescu stated:

”The strengthening of specialized institutions in combating crime and corruption, as well as in the recovery and management of assets derived from criminal activities, is a major and constant priority of the Romanian Government. The expertise of the Swiss partners represents a clear added value in achieving this goal." At the same time, the Minister of Justice emphasized the importance of Swiss contribution in supporting the judicial system reach its key objectives, as reflected in the recently adopted Strategy for the Development of the Judiciary 2025–2029.

For his part, Mr. Didier Chassot stated:

” Switzerland is very glad to continue its close cooperation with Romania under the second Swiss contribution to the EU cohesion, through a comprehensive Programme in the area of citizen safety and security with the Ministry of Justice and its partner agencies, that reflects our shared commitment to judicial independence, the rule of law, and a child-sensitive justice system. By strengthening institutions, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and promoting strategic responses to challenges such as organized crime and cybercrime, this partnership supports a more resilient, accessible, and rights-based justice system—one that serves the public good and places the needs of children at its core.

We are fully committed to and strongly encouraged by the forthcoming implementation of our joint programme, ensuring that its benefits are tangible, lasting and widely felt across the Romanian society.”

The event marked the launch of the implementation of an ambitious cooperation programme between Romania and the Swiss Confederation in the field of justice. It also provided an opportunity for the Swiss delegation to meet with all the actors in the justice sector involved in implementing the programme dedicated to the justice system, including the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism, the National Anticorruption Directorate, the Superior Council of Magistracy, the National Agency for the Management of Seized Assets and the National Institute of Magistracy.

The “Public Security and Safety Programme (Justice)” aims at strengthening the judicial system’s capacity to effectively combat crime and uphold the rule of law. It has a total budget of 11,764,706 CHF, 85% of which is non-reimbursable external funding, amounting to 10,000,000 CHF.

The Programme finances five components corresponding to the following two thematic priorities:

1.Fight organized crime, corruption, and financial crime, and support asset recovery;

2.Enhace and consolidate a child-friendly justice system.

The operational implementation period of the Programme ends on 20^th, April 2028.