The European Union Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova was officially inaugurated in Chisinau. Attending the event, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the deployment of this mission is another important political signal of the European Union’s support for the Republic of Moldova in the current difficult circumstances. The Vice-President of the European Commotion noted that Moldova is one of the countries most directly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Russia is trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova, with interference and with hybrid actions, IPN reports.
The official said that this mission will join another 12 EU civilian missions around the world. It is a very important mission “because here, in Moldova, we are facing real challenges, and that is why this mission is an innovative mission, based on three pillars. First, it has to contribute to strengthening the crisis management capacities of the security sector of Moldova. ”Secondly, the mission will assist in enhancing resilience to face hybrid threats - especially cybersecurity - and countering foreign information manipulation and interference, which is a danger that is growing and growing everywhere and putting our democracies at risk. This will require developing strategies and policies, identifying the necessary capacity building for early warning, detection, attribution of threats, and effective response to them. And finally, thirdly, the mission will have a project cell offering targeted operational support to help Moldova respond in both areas. Overall, the aim of the mission is to strengthen Moldova’s resilience,” stated Josep Borrell.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu noted that the launch of this mission takes place in a very complex regional context marked by the Russian Federation’s aggression and war against Ukraine and by the policies pursed by the Russian Federation with regard to the Republic of Moldova during 30 years. These are hostile policies aimed at destabilizing the country. “During these years, we all could see that these attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova failed as our society wants to live in freedom, democracy and wants to continue the path of accession to the European Union,” stated the official.
“This mission is indeed a very important step in building our capacities and in strengthening our states, our resilience, which will evidently enable us to further ensure stability, peace, serenity and the Europeanization of our country.”
Minister of Interior Ana Revenco said that Moldova became a battleground for hybrid warfare that endangers democracies all over the European continent. The novelty of this mission is highly appreciated by the team of the Ministry of Interior. “We realize and fully appreciate the political commitment undertaken by the European Union by approving and opening in Chisinau the mission during such a short period of time,” stated the minister, noting they also regard this mission as a strategic opportunity for transferring to the European institutions the learned lessons and the actions that were already taken by the Republic of Moldova in response to the multiple overlapping crises.
At the request of the Government of Moldova, the EU formally established EUPM on 24 April 2023 as a civilian mission in the framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy. The mission was launched by the Council on 22 May 2023. The Mission aims to have 40 international staff deployed on the ground by the summer. EUPM will have a 2-year mandate which can be renewed. The Mission is headed by Cosmin Dinescu, a Romanian career diplomat with more than 20 years of experience in the Romanian diplomatic service, both at bilateral and multilateral levels. He competed for this post alongside another seven persons.
