NCPDP Standing with European Values

Every year, on May 9th, Europe Day is celebrated as a symbol of peace and unity in Europe. Europe Day 2025 marks the fundamental values that served as the foundation for the formation and development of the European Union— principles that have transformed the 27 member states into prosperous countries dedicated to promoting human rights, peace, and progress. Additionally, Europe Day 2025 commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for the European Union as we know it today. In a speech delivered in Paris in 1950, then French Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Schuman proposed establishing a new form of political cooperation in Europe to forever eliminate the possibility of another war between European nations. Robert Schuman’s proposal is considered the cornerstone of the European Union. To mark this day, EU institutions open their doors to the public in early May in Brussels and Strasbourg. Local EU offices throughout Europe and worldwide organize various activities and events for all ages.

In the Republic of Moldova, Europe Day was officially established in 2017, making it one of the country’s youngest holidays. This year, Europe Day will be celebrated under the slogan “Peace, Prosperity, Dignity – Europe Is You!” The traditional European Village will take place in the Great National Assembly Square under the aegis of the Government, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, together with the embassies of EU member states and EU-funded projects.

The National Centre for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP), alongside other institutions from the Republic of Moldova and the EU, participates every year in the celebration of Europe Day, organizing various events to raise public awareness about the EU.

Over the years, NCPDP has followed the European trajectory, collaborating closely with EU institutions and benefiting from their support. For example, in 2025, in partnership with the e-Government Academy, NCPDP organized, on January 28, the national conference “New Legal Provisions in the Field of Personal Data Protection in the Republic of Moldova,” for around 150 representatives from both public institutions and the private sector. The event, supported by the EU’s Cybersecurity Rapid Assistance 2.0 project, served as an opportunity to exchange experience and best practices with EU experts regarding raising awareness and informing the public and private sectors about personal data protection.

Although the field of personal data protection is relatively new for the society of the Republic of Moldova, significant progress has been made in recent years towards achieving the national objective of ensuring an adequate level of personal data protection, in line with the norms of the European Union and the Council of Europe, as well as guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, especially the right to privacy regarding personal data processing.

In this context, on August 23, 2024, Law No. 195/2024 on Personal Data Protection was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova. This law faithfully transposes the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR). The new legislation will enter into force two years after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Furthermore, international cooperation remains a key driver for the institutional development objectives of NCPDP. Successes in this area have been achieved thanks to the exchange of experience, knowledge, and best practices with data protection authorities, training provided by EU experts, and the adoption and practical implementation of international standards for the protection of personal data. Cooperation, both at the European and international levels, represents a strategic aspect requiring engagement in all ongoing initiatives.

Europe Day 2025 is about reaffirming the commitment to the values that unite us and make us strong: Peace, Prosperity, and Dignity; it is about the future of every European citizen, with the EU at the same time representing a democratic model of values and principles that have been-and remain-fundamental for their prosperity.