EUPM Moldova: Moving forward towards sustainable security resilience in Moldova

The European Union has just renewed the mandate of the European Union Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova (EUPM Moldova), reaffirming its long-term commitment to support Moldova’s resilience in the face of growing hybrid threats.

Established in 2023 following a  request of Moldovan authorities, EUPM Moldova was  the first EU civilian mission created specifically to address the complex challenge of resilience against hybrid threats — including cybersecurity vulnerabilities and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). On 20 May 2025, the Foreign Affairs Council extended the mandate of EUPM by another two years, until the end of May 2027.

“EUPM Moldova was designed as a flexible, advice-driven mission, tailored to address Moldova’s security needs in a challenging regional environment. The renewal of its mandate is a recognition of the progress achieved and the work still ahead,” said Cosmin Dinescu, Head of Mission.

Supporting Moldova’s Strategic Resilience

In just two years, EUPM Moldova has built a reputation as a trusted and capable partner for Moldovan authorities. Working side-by-side with institutions across the government, the Mission has provided strategic advice and implemented targeted projects to strengthen Moldova’s preparedness against crises and hybrid threats planned and organised by hostile foreign actors.

Crisis Management: One of EUPM’s flagship achievements has been its contribution to the creation of a National Crisis Management Centre — a central hub designed to improve Moldova’s ability to respond to emergencies in a coordinated and efficient manner. Alongside this, the Mission facilitated study visits to EU countries, delivered specialised training (including for trainers and leadership), and supported the harmonisation of Moldova’s crisis legislation with EU standards.

Cybersecurity: EUPM Moldova played a central role in the establishment of Moldova’s new Cybersecurity Agency, supporting not only its organisational structure but also its technical capacity. The Mission provided equipment, delivered training, and promoted a whole-of-government approach to cyber resilience. Through forums like the Moldova Cybersecurity Forum, EUPM helped elevate the public and institutional discourse around digital threats.

Countering Disinformation and FIMI: In the fight against foreign information manipulation, EUPM has been instrumental in the launch of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation (StratCom Centre). The Mission helped design methodologies to detect, analyse and respond to disinformation campaigns, and enabled staff to learn from EU best practices through study visits and tailored training.

Results in Numbers

Behind these institutional reforms lies extensive, hands-on engagement:

• Tangible contributions to legislation on critical infrastructure protection, crisis response and coordination, and cybersecurity.
• Over 62 capacity-building activities, organised or supported, in crisis management, cybersecurity, strategic communications, and FIMI;
• Besides the strategic advice and implementation of recommendations of EUPM permanent staff, the Mission is able to react on very specific needs of the Moldovan partners via deployment of Specialised Teams and Visiting experts recruited from EU Member States. These experts have additionally contributed with more than 5,500 hours of direct support  (Specialised Teams) and an additional 2,500 hours (Visiting Experts), working directly with the Moldovan authorities;

Working Together for Moldova’s Future

EUPM Moldova operates as part of an integrated EU presence in Moldova, working closely with the EU Delegation in Chișinău, EU Member States, and international partners to ensure coherence and impact. With hybrid threats becoming more sophisticated and persistent, the need for strategic, well-coordinated action remains critical. 

“EUPM Moldova is about partnership — building the kind of trusted, technical relationships that help make Moldova more resilient and more prepared. We are proud of what’s been achieved so far and ready for the next phase,” Head of Mission Cosmin Dinescu added.

As Moldova looks ahead, the EU’s continued support through EUPM sends a clear message: Europe stands by Moldova not only through words, but also through concrete action.