EU announces extra support for Moldova to cope with war impact

The European Commission and the European External Action Service have put together a package of support for Moldova to help it address the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine and to bring it closer to the European Union, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Commission’s official website.

On this matter, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Moldova has stood firmly in solidarity and in defence of European values. And despite the enormous consequences Russia's war of aggression is having on the country, Moldova is taking great strides to advance on its European future. With today's package, the EU shows we stand by Moldova and we will work to accelerate your European integration and reforms. Moldova's future lies in the EU”.

The support package for Moldova has five priorities: facilitating economic development, supporting reforms, ensuring energy security, enhancing security, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, and enhancing strategic communication 

The document explains that the announced measures are expected to be financed through reallocations resulting from the European Commission's proposed 20 June revision of the EU's long-term budget for 2024-2027.

Since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Moldova has been tackling significant challenges, including large numbers of refugees, inflation, threats to its energy supplies, violations of its airspace, as well as a multitude of hybrid actions such as disinformation and cyber-attacks. The EU has already mobilised €1.2 billion to help Moldova tackle multiple crises since the autumn of 2021.

Despite these challenges, Moldova has shown its resilience and commitment to advance on its pro-European reform agenda reforms.  In this context, the European Council invited in March the European Commission to present a support package ahead of its next meeting to continue providing all relevant support to the Republic of Moldova, including to strengthen the country's resilience, security, stability, economy and energy supply in the face of destabilising activities by external actors, as well as support on its accession path to the European Union.