The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council has approved a new support package for the National Army of the Republic of Moldova, which is designed to strengthen the security and defense capabilities of the country. The decision was taken in the Council’s meeting held in Brussels, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu announced in a news conference, IPN reports.

“The approval of a new support package that will be offered to the National Army through the agency of the European Peace Facility is another important moment for our country. This is an initiative that comes to strengthen our security and defense capabilities,” stated Nicu Popescu.

The Council also established the EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova (EUPM Moldova) under the Common Security and Defense Policy. The objective of this civilian mission is to enhance the resilience of the security sector of the country in the areas of crisis management and hybrid threats, including cybersecurity, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference. Nicu Popescu noted that the mission does not form part of the Transnistrian conflict settlement.

The minister reminded that last week Moldova made its first contribution to the enlargement report of the European Commission. Moldova’s report consisted of over 900 pages. In June, as a subsequent step, the EU will be familiarized with the updated progress made in fulfilling the EU accession recommendations.

The official reiterated that progress has been made in fulfilling the nine recommendations put forward by the European Commission and some of the recommended measures were already implemented or are to be implemented. The most important recommendations refer to the completion of the essential stages of the justice sector reform and filling of all the vacancies at the Supreme Council of Magistracy and the specialty bodies and to the commitment to fight corruption at all the levels by taking decisive steps for pro-active and efficient investigations and a credible history of criminal proceedings and convictions.

Nicu Popescu noted that an internal deoligarchization plan was designed to limit the influence of oligarchs on the economy and the political class, to strengthen the protection of human rights, to improve gender equality and to step up the fight against violence against women.