Moldova: EU sets up a civilian mission to strengthen the resilience of the security sector

The Council on 24 April established the EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova (EUPM Moldova) under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The objective of this civilian mission is to enhance the resilience of the security sector of the country in the areas of crisis management and hybrid threats, including cybersecurity, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

To this end, the mission will provide advice at strategic level on the development of strategies and policies, and identify the needs for capacity building for early warning, detection, identification, attribution of threats and the response to hybrid threats.

The mission will feature a project cell responsible for identifying and implementing projects in the aforementioned areas, in close coordination with other like-minded actors.

In response to Moldova’s request, EUPM Moldova will have an initial mandate of two years and its Operational Headquarters will be in Moldova. Stefano Tomat, EEAS Managing Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), will be the Civilian Operation Commander; a Head of Mission leading operations on the ground will be appointed in the near future.

Background and next steps

In its conclusions of 24 June 2022, the European Council recognised the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova, and decided to grant it, along with Ukraine, the status of candidate country.

In its conclusions of 15 December 2022, the European Council affirmed that the EU would continue to provide all relevant support to the Republic of Moldova as it deals with the multifaceted impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

In a letter to the High Representative dated 28 January 2023, the Prime minister of the Republic of Moldova invited the EU to deploy a civilian mission in the country under the CSDP.

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