In the history of all nations, there are moments when the political direction is preceded by a deeper change, almost invisible at first: the change of consciousness. States are born through political acts, but nations are consolidated through culture, education, memory and intellectual elites. Modern Romania represents one of the most eloquent examples in this regard. Long before the Union of the Principalities in 1859 or the Great Union in 1918, there was a cultural Romania, built through the common language, through school, through literature, through the church, through historiography and through the discreet but tireless work of intellectuals.

The publication, on May 5, 2026, of the Romanian Academic Council’s Appeal to public authorities, the intellectual community and Romanian society on both banks of the Prut, brings back into focus precisely this fundamental lesson of history. It is not just an institutional document, nor a simple statement of principle. It is a reaffirmation of the role that intellectuals play in the great turning points of a nation’s destiny – and, more than that, a signal that the time for preparations is nearing its end and the time for decision is approaching its beginning.

Established on March 26, 2026, by the merger of the Romanian Academy, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, and four branch academies from Romania, the Romanian Academic Council represents, probably, the most important institutional formula of Romanian academic cooperation since 1991. It did not appear by chance at a time when the Republic of Moldova is going through the most important stage of its European journey and the war in Ukraine has radically changed the security architecture in Eastern Europe.

Great national projects are not born in the offices of politicians

There is a tendency to attribute major historical transformations exclusively to political leaders. In reality, politics consecrates what society and culture have been preparing for decades.

The unification of the Principalities would not have been possible without the 1848 generation. Greater Romania would not have existed without the Transylvanian school, without Mihail Kogalniceanu, without Nicolae Iorga, without Titu Maiorescu, without Mihai Eminescu and without the thousands of teachers, priests, educators, and cultural figures who cultivated the consciousness of belonging to the same historical community. They did not have electoral mandates and did not sign treaties. Instead, they had something more durable: the conviction that a people separated by artificial borders remains, in essence, one.

The political Romania was preceded by the cultural Romania. And today, a century later, the same sequence is repeating before our eyes, this time on both banks of the Prut.

This idea, reaffirmed in the joint declaration of the Romanian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova from December 30, 2025, and now reiterated by the Romanian Academic Council, is not just a historical evocation. It expresses an almost universal rule: lasting political unity can only exist when it is preceded by the unity of values, language, education and collective memory.

From this perspective, the Appeal of the Romanian Academic Council is profoundly realistic. It does not ask for spectacular gestures or hasty decisions. On the contrary, it proposes exactly what is often missing from the public space: expertise, planning, research and institutional construction — the necessary but often ignored steps of any lasting unification process.

Intellectuals have the duty to tell the truth when politics hesitate

In moments of crisis, the responsibility of the intellectual is not to engage in partisan politics, but to defend the truth — including when the truth is inconvenient for those who prefer endless procrastination.

Academies, universities and research institutions should not replace the democratic decision of citizens. But they have the moral and professional obligation to create the framework in which society can make informed decisions, without manipulation and without falsifying the past. The silence of the elites, in the face of ambiguity deliberately maintained by some political actors, is not neutrality – it is a form of complicity with uncertainty. This is perhaps the most important message of the Appeal.

The Romanian Academic Council explicitly states that major decisions regarding the future of the Republic of Moldova belong to its citizens. However, before a democratic decision can be made, a space for knowledge must be constructed. And this construction can only be achieved through research, education and public dialogue.

In recent decades, the Republic of Moldova has been the battleground of a constant confrontation between historical truth and identity propaganda. Precisely for this reason, the role of the academic community becomes essential. When history is manipulated, when identity is relativized, when memory is used as a political tool, intellectuals no longer have the right to neutrality.

They have the duty to defend the documented truth. Not through slogans. Not through emotion. But through arguments. And, also through arguments, they have the duty to show where this truth naturally leads: to the recognition of a single historical and linguistic identity, beyond the administrative border imposed in 1812 and artificially maintained by successive empires.

From symbols to concrete projects

Another merit of the document lies in the fact that it shifts the discussion from the symbolic register to the institutional one.

For years, the closeness between Romania and the Republic of Moldova has been expressed almost exclusively through political statements and commemorative events. All of these have had their importance, but they are not enough for the construction of a lasting convergence — and, even less so, for the preparation of the political union that historical logic demands.

The Romanian Academic Council proposes the establishment of mixed groups of experts to develop studies on the harmonization of educational systems, the development of common research infrastructure, the alignment of the legal framework, the valorization of cultural heritage and the formulation of a common communication strategy. This is the difference between an ideal and a project.

History demonstrates that no major integration process can succeed without an intellectual and institutional foundation. The European Union itself is the result of an academic, legal, and economic construction elaborated over decades before political decisions.

The same principle applies to the relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova – with one essential difference: here it is not about the union of different states, but about the reunification of a single people, separated by a border that history has never morally validated.

Culture is the strongest form of security

In the current context, dominated by informational warfare and geopolitical competition, culture is no longer just a spiritual heritage. It becomes a tool of national security – and, in the case of the Republic of Moldova, a shield against a hybrid aggression targeting exactly what the Academies’ Appeal defends: language, history and collective consciousness.

A society that knows its history is harder to manipulate. A society that respects its language is harder to divide. A society that invests in education is more resistant to propaganda.

From this perspective, the academic closeness between Bucharest and Chisinau goes beyond the cultural dimension. It contributes to strengthening the democratic resilience of the entire Romanian space and prepares, step by step, the ground for the political act of rehabilitating the truth and logic of history.

Not by chance, the Romanian Academic Council speaks about the development of a common infrastructure for research, education and innovation. In the 21st century, a nation’s competitiveness no longer depends exclusively on natural resources or military capacity, but also on the strength of its academic institutions and the level of intellectual capital.

Union is not nostalgia, but a strategic necessity

It is important to underline: speaking about unification today does not mean looking back to the past, but responding to a concrete need of the present. In a region threatened by war, misinformation and economic instability, the full integration of the Republic of Moldova into the Romanian space – and through it, into the European Union – is not just an identity project, but a guarantee of security and prosperity for the citizens of both banks of the Prut.

The postponement of this process, under the pretext of “prudence”, risks leaving the Republic of Moldova exposed exactly to those vulnerabilities that the Romanian Academic Council identifies: historical manipulation, identity erosion, and dependence on narratives foreign to Romanian national interests. Prudence makes sense when it prepares the decision; it becomes complicity when it indefinitely delays it.

A historical responsibility of today’s generation

The appeal of the Romanian Academic Council conveys, in essence, a simple message, but of profound historical significance: the current generation cannot live solely on the inheritance of its ancestors, but has the obligation to make its own contribution to the fulfillment of the historical destiny of the Romanian people. In the context of the year 2026, this contribution involves assuming and completing the national project started with the Union of the Principalities in 1859, perfected through the Great Union in 1918, but fractured following the annexation of Bessarabia by the Soviet Union in 1940.

Over a century ago, the Romanian intelligentsia prepared the ground for the great political acts that made possible the construction of the unitary national state. Today, in a different geopolitical context, the same responsibility falls on the shoulders of academics, professors, researchers, writers, artists and all those who shape the public space through knowledge, culture and education. However, for this effort to produce historical effects, it must be accompanied by the political will of those called to govern the two Romanian states.

Therefore, the responsibility of the new governments in Bucharest and Chisinau is one that goes beyond the current administration of public affairs. They are called to transform the message of the Romanian Academic Council into a strategic direction of action, consolidating the common space of education, culture, research, infrastructure, economy and security. This is not about a conjunctural or partisan project, but about assuming a historical responsibility towards the generations that made modern Romania possible and towards those that will follow.

History does not demand the mechanical repetition of the past, but the understanding of its lessons. And the most important of these is that great political constructions only endure when they are founded on an authentic community of values, culture and national consciousness. Precisely for this reason, the principle reaffirmed in the Appeal of the Romanian Academic Council – that cultural Romania preceded political Romania – represents not only a historical observation, but also a direction of action for the present.

If the new governments in Bucharest and Chisinau will have the wisdom and courage to consider this appeal as a benchmark of their public policies, and if the academic institutions, intellectuals and civil society on both banks of the Prut will continue to strengthen the community of language, culture and historical memory, then the closeness between Romania and the Republic of Moldova will surpass the limits of political conjunctures. It will have the most durable foundation that history can offer: truth, culture, education and the consciousness of belonging to the same nation. And on this foundation, the restoration of Romanian national unity will no longer represent just a historical ideal, but the natural consequence of a convergence process assumed with responsibility by the elites and political factors of the two Romanian states.

The post Cultural Romania preceded Political Romania. Op-Ed by Anatol Taranu appeared first on ipn.md.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens inform themselves exclusively from official sources regarding the evolution of the security situation and maintain contact with the diplomatic missions of Moldova in the countries where they are located.

According to the MFA, several states in the region have restrictions on the use of airspace, which may affect the schedule of flights. In this context, citizens should periodically check the status of flights with airlines or travel agencies and consider alternative routes only if they do not involve additional security risks.

For consular assistance, citizens can contact the embassies of the Republic of Moldova in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan, the latter being also accredited for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies that it continues to monitor developments in the Middle East and will inform the public in case of new relevant developments.

The post The MFA warns Moldovan citizens to avoid travel to the Middle East appeared first on ipn.md.

One of the main innovations is the introduction of the principle of responsibility. Data operators will not only be obliged to comply with the law, but also to be able to demonstrate this through internal policies, security measures and clear procedures for processing personal information.

According to the CNPDCP representatives, the new legal framework will come into effect on August 23. Until then, companies and public institutions are urged to adjust their internal processes to meet the new requirements.

Additional obligations will fall on institutions that manage large volumes of sensitive data, such as medical or biometric information. They will need to assess the risks, prevent potential security breaches, train their employees and establish response mechanisms in case of incidents.

Simultaneously, the authorities are preparing stricter rules for legal institutions. A bill approved in the first reading stipulates the registration of each access to personal data by police officers, prosecutors or judges, in order to verify who, when, and for what purpose the information was consulted. Violation of the norms will be sanctioned with fines of up to two million lei.

The conference “The New Era of Data Protection – GDPR Implementation” is organized within the project “Moldova is Europe – support for integration into the EU”, funded by the European Union and Denmark.

The post The business environment, called to adapt to the new rules regarding personal data protection appeared first on ipn.md.

The Irish Prime Minister emphasized that his country’s mandate, which began on July 1, comes at a critical moment for the European continent. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, welcomed Ireland’s vision and mentioned that the legislature will be a reliable partner.

At the same time, a pillar of the Irish mandate is the advancement of the EU enlargement process. Dublin aims to finalize accession negotiations with Montenegro and to achieve substantial progress in the European path of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as for the states in the Western Balkans. Moreover, firm support for Kiev in political, financial, and military terms has been reaffirmed, while also advocating for increased pressure on Russia through consolidated sanctions.

Furthermore, Micheál Martin expressed his confidence that an agreement on the EU’s future multiannual budget could be finalized by the end of the current year.

The post The priorities of the EU Council Presidency, presented by the Irish Prime Minister in the European Parliament appeared first on ipn.md.

According to the report presented, the main issues identified concern the excessive duration of proceedings, effective access to justice, the security of legal relationships, and the non-execution of final judicial decisions. Furthermore, 21 violations of the right to property protection, seven violations of the right to respect for private and family life, as well as violations regarding the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment and the right to an effective remedy were found.

The head of the Government Agent Directorate within the Ministry of Justice, Doina Maimescu, clarified that the facts underlying the decisions made in 2025 occurred between 2011-2022, many of the cases reflecting systemic issues accumulated in previous years. She mentioned that last year, the Republic of Moldova ranked fifth among the member states of the Council of Europe in terms of the number of decisions made by the ECHR.

The President of the Commission for Human Rights and Interethnic Relations, Grigore Novac, stated that the ECHR decisions confirm the structural nature of the problems faced by the Republic of Moldova, especially in the field of justice. According to him, the large number of cases concerning excessive duration of proceedings and non-enforcement of court decisions indicates the need for improving internal remedies.

The Ombudsman’s deputy, Valentin Roșca, appreciated the presented report and emphasized the importance of strengthening the mechanisms for enforcing the Court’s decisions, as well as the dialogue between authorities to respect the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to ECHR data, last year the Republic of Moldova paid approximately 373 thousand euros in compensation established by the Court. At the same time, two regress actions were initiated and five notifications were sent to the Superior Council of Magistracy regarding possible disciplinary breaches by some judges.

The post Last year, the ECHR found 73 violations of the Convention in cases involving the Republic of Moldova appeared first on ipn.md.

The request is to be examined by the Supreme Court of Justice, the only competent authority to decide whether the trial will continue at the same court or will be transferred to another court. Representatives of “Eurasia” have requested the relocation on the grounds that they do not trust the impartiality of the judges of the court examining the case.

The final pleadings were supposed to begin at Friday’s meeting, after the judicial investigation was concluded. However, with the submission of the transfer request, the examination of the case was suspended.

This is not the first time the case review has been interrupted. Previously, the trial was put on hold after representatives of the “Eurasia” organization raised a constitutional exception, challenging several provisions of the Law on Combating Extremist Activity and the Law on the Information and Security Service, invoked by SIS in the trial. The Constitutional Court later declared the referral inadmissible, and the case was returned to the court for further examination. At the same time, representatives of “Eurasia” also requested the recusal of the entire panel of judges, but the motion was rejected.

At the initiation of the trial process, SIS did not provide details, but “Eurasia” is targeted in a report by the institution about external interference in the 2024 electoral processes. The document indicates that foreign influence on the Republic of Moldova was exerted through “platforms, influence agents and typical tools of a hybrid interference”, among which the “Eurasia” entity, the “Victory” Bloc and the organized criminal group “Șor”, supported by individuals under international sanctions and in search.

The post Request for relocation in the “Eurasia” case. Examination of the cause, suspended until the decision of the SCJ appeared first on ipn.md.

Ireland’s mandate, which extends over a period of six months, until December 31, marks the eighth time the state holds the presidency of the Council. In a global context defined by instability and major challenges, Dublin aims to act under the motto “Strength through unity”. Also, the emphasis will be on the rule of law, the resilience of democracies and fundamental rights, including the protection of minorities and children online.

At the same time, Ireland will pay special attention to the EU enlargement process, considering it an essential tool for ensuring peace and prosperity across the entire continent. The Dublin government has expressed its support for the merit-based accession process for candidate states such as Moldova and Ukraine. In this regard, Ireland insists that the fundamental values of the community bloc, especially the rule of law, be strictly respected both within the EU and in the candidate countries.

At the same time, during its six-month mandate, Ireland aims to conduct complex negotiations on the future multiannual budget of the union, while maintaining support for key policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy and regional cohesion.

The post Ireland takes over the presidency of the EU Council, with an agenda focused on expansion and security appeared first on ipn.md.

“I am very happy to be here, in Chisinau, in the capacity of the new senior defense official and defense attaché of the US Embassy. Coming to Moldova feels a bit like coming home,” declared Bolboaca-Negru. The representative of the United States mentions that he grew up in Cluj-Napoca and that he is familiar with the local language, culture, and cuisine.

Marcel Bolboaca-Negru has over 25 years of experience in the military field, with missions in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. He also served in the US State Department in Washington, where he held the position of military advisor.

The post Marcel Bolboaca-Negru, appointed as Defense Attaché at the US Embassy in the Republic of Moldova appeared first on ipn.md.

At the same time, CEIISS has refused to approve some of the operator’s investments. In a press release issued by the Council, it is specified that during the checks, information and documents related to the structure of the investments, the actual beneficiaries, and the financial transactions between Flyone Moldova and the affiliated company, Flyone Armenia, were repeatedly requested. The Council maintains that some of the requested information was not fully presented.

Furthermore, during the review process, information regarding potential links between individuals associated with the respective companies and individuals under the incidence of international sanctions was analyzed. These aspects were taken into account when making the decision. CEIISS states that the measure aims to protect the state’s security interests in a strategic area and to ensure compliance with legislation on investments in sensitive sectors.

The authorities clarify that the decision does not imply the suspension of the company’s activity nor the withdrawal of permissive documents. Flyone will continue to operate scheduled flights and to fulfill its obligations towards passengers and commercial partners.

Contacted by IPN, the representatives of the Flyone company did not offer a response until the news was published.

The post The authorities refuse to approve the investments of the company Flyone and request a change of ownership appeared first on ipn.md.

The European official emphasized that the security of the Republic of Moldova is closely linked to the security of the whole of Europe, which is why the EU will continue to invest in strengthening the country’s defense and resilience capabilities. According to Ursula von der Leyen, the Republic of Moldova is the second largest beneficiary of the funds granted through the European Peace Facility, after Ukraine.

In addition, the European Union will provide 11 million euros to increase resilience against hybrid attacks and will continue the EU’s partnership mission in areas such as cybersecurity and strategic communication. European support will also target border security. In this regard, Brussels will invest 17 million euros in border infrastructure, to improve surveillance, detection capabilities, and the overall level of security.

Furthermore, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union desires a greater involvement of the Republic of Moldova in the European cooperation network in the electoral field, for the exchange of experience and the strengthening of the resilience of democratic processes.

The post Ursula von der Leyen: The EU is preparing a new package of 120 million euros for the security of Moldova appeared first on ipn.md.