The eighth meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council begins today in Brussels. The Security and Defense Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union - a document referring to areas of cooperation, such as civil defense, extended information exchange and combating cyberthreats - is to be signed in this. The draft agreement also says that Moldova will be helped to promote its interests in international forums, including the UN, IPN reports.
The draft document, seen by RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service, says among others that in the future Moldova could participate, if it wishes, in the new European facility of response to crises in its neighborhood, called the Rapid Deployment Capacity, as well as in EU military exercises.
It also mentions the possibility for Moldova to take part in EU projects in the field of the defense industry and joint arms procurement within the 27-member bloc as a kind of “guest”, given that for now it is only a candidate for membership of the EU.
The EU will offer more support to Moldova in guarding its borders, including in combating illegal migration and human trafficking, as well as organized crime and arms trafficking.
The draft agreement, quoted by the Service, provides that that the new National Security Strategy, which was adopted by the Parliament in Chisinau in December 2023 (that identified Russia as the main external threat), stipulates that the accession to the EU is one of the country’s main objectives and envisions extensive cooperation with the EU and other partners and allies in dealing with “transnational challenges”.
The eighth meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council will discuss the evolution of relations with the EU in terms of implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, as well as the preparations for opening accession negotiations. In addition to the Moldova-EU Security and Defense Partnership, there will be signed an Agreement on Moldova’s participation in the Employment and Social Innovation program.
Moldova’s delegation is led by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who will co-chair the meeting, together with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell.
