High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, stated:

“I am glad that one year after I officially inaugurated the Mission’s Chisinau Headquarters, the EU Partnership Mission to Moldova has become a reliable partner of the Moldovan Government. Unique in its mandate, this mission supports Moldova in directly addressing the changing nature of threats that the country is facing, notably strengthening the capacity to address the full scale of hybrid threats, including cyber-security and fighting disinformation. I thank all the mission’s personnel, including the experts from 14 EU Member States, for their efforts and dedication. The Republic of Moldova’s security contributes to the EU’s security.”

Head of mission: “When this mission was launched a year ago, the EU defined two main areas of operation - strengthening crisis management capabilities of the country and enhancing the resilience against hybrid threats. In these fields, we have started important projects together with the Moldovan government and achieved first successes, which are already building the desired increased resilience and preparedness of the security institutions of the country. So, on our first anniversary we can proudly say that EUPM Moldova has achieved its objective of being a true and reliable partner for the security of the Republic of Moldova.”

In this first year, the Mission has been supporting the operationalisation of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation, advising during the drafting of the National Security Strategy, donating equipment and strengthening the analytical capabilities of the institutions in the security sector, working with the Ministry of the Interior for the development of a comprehensive crisis management system and a first National Risk Analysis/ Register, supporting the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation, STISC and the operationalisation of the new Agency for Cyber Security, working with the State Protection and Guard Service (SPPS) and the Security and Intelligence Service to strengthen their resilience to hybrid threats.

EUPM Moldova is the first civilian mission under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy established in the Republic of Moldova, at the request of its government on 22 May 2023 and inaugurated by High Representative Josep Borrell in Chisinau on 31 May 2023. The Mission provides assistance in the form of strategic advice, training and equipment to the security sector institutions of the country. It reflects the robust support and commitment from EU and its Member States for the country’s security and its chosen European path in the current challenging context. It is also an expression of the global role of the EU as a security actor caring for the safety and security of its citizens, as established in the Strategic Compass.

In carrying out its mandate, the Mission assists in the development of strategies and policies, in identifying capacity building needs for early warning, detection and attribution of threats and effective response to them.

Unique in its mandate among the EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions, EUPM Moldova is focusing on enhancing the resilience of the Republic of Moldova’s security sector in countering hybrid threats. This reflects the nature and magnitude of the attacks the country faces, being subject to almost the entire range of hybrid threats. In this area of expertise, the Mission is also playing an active role in facilitating improved coordination efforts of the international partners present in the country.

The EU will continue to stand with Moldova and will support its people along the path towards our common European future.

For further information please contact:

Ruxandra STANCIU

Press and Public Information Officer

Tel. : +37368652903, ruxandra.stanciu@eupm-moldova.eu

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

EUPM Moldova, which is an exclusively civilian mission, was established on 24 April 2023 and launched on 22 May 2023. 14 EU Member States contribute with permanent and visiting experts in the field of resilience to hybrid threats, cybersecurity and combatting Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). The mission has an initial mandate of two years, renewable upon decision by EU Member States.

EUPM Moldova provides strategic level advice and operational support to strengthen the country’s internal security sector. The main lines of action are:

•            Contribute to strengthening the crisis management capacities of the security sector of the Republic of Moldova

•            Assist in enhancing the resilience to hybrid threats, especially cybersecurity, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference

•            Offering targeted operational support to the authorities of the Republic of Moldova through a project cell.

The Mission is a non-executive one, meaning that its role is to advise and support, whereas the responsibility to act and implement policies and decisions rests with the Moldovan authorities. It is also among the first modular and scalable missions, meaning that its permanent capacities can be boosted by temporary Visiting Experts and Specialised Teams from EU Member States. It permanently relies on 40 international staff and 15 local staff based in Chisinau.