The EU over the past year has developed a comprehensive support package worth more than 1 billion euros to increase the resilience of Moldova.
And the 5 flagship initiatives agreed by it are aimed at attracting 1.6 billion euros of investments for Moldova. This was stated by the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, speaking in the European Parliament, where the situation in Moldova and the prospects for developing its relations with the EU were discussed. He noted that this debate is very timely, as Russia and its puppets are actively working to destabilize the pro-reform Moldovan government. As Olivér Várhelyi noted, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has experienced its consequences and continues to face a growing number of problems, such as the loss of key markets, skyrocketing inflation, airspace violations and organized protests. Nevertheless, Moldova showed remarkable solidarity with refugees from Ukraine. The European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement stressed that, according to the Moldovan authorities, the likelihood of direct military aggression against Moldova is currently low. Moreover, the de facto authorities in the Transnistrian region want to avoid being drawn into the war, but vigilance is needed due to the presence of Russian troops and ammunition in the Transnistrian region. According to Olivér Várhelyi, Russia's attempts to destabilize Moldova through hybrid actions have become more frequent in recent months. Moldovan President Maia Sandu warned of plans to try to change power by violent means. "Russia's lie that Ukraine is raising troops to attack Moldova's pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria was quickly refuted by Chisinau," the EU commissioner said. He noted that, at the same time, high energy prices and high inflation have increased the burden on the population, worsening their living conditions. “Russia has once again used energy as a political weapon, but the Moldovan government, with the support of the EU, has managed to meet these unprecedented challenges. It is noteworthy that, despite all the pressure, Moldova, now as an EU candidate country, continues to work on reforms aimed at bringing the country closer to the European Union. In this regard, on February 2 this year, the Commission services presented additional policy recommendations on reforms related to EU law in our Policy Report. This complements our last year's opinion on the country's application for EU membership, which will be followed by a comprehensive assessment of Moldova's progress in fulfilling the EU accession criteria, which will be made later this autumn,” said Olivér Várhelyi. He stressed that Moldova remains at the top of the political agenda of the European Union, which unwaveringly supports the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. The European Commissioner noted that over the past 12 months, the EU has developed a comprehensive support package worth more than 1 billion euros to increase the resilience of Moldova. “In addition, the Economic and Investment Plan for our Eastern Partners has significant potential that must be fully exploited to support Moldova's reform agenda. The five flagship initiatives that we have agreed together aim to attract €1.6 billion in investment for Moldova. We support the modernization of the defense sector in Moldova with the support of the European Peace Fund (EPF). By providing 47 million euros, we will actually double the national defense budget of Moldova. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell suggested that the EU states maintain a significant level of financial assistance to Moldova this year as well. In addition, EU experts support Moldova in matters of cybersecurity, combating hybrid threats and countering disinformation. The EU has also launched a hub to address issues of internal security and border management. And we are looking for additional ways to support Moldova. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is advancing work on preparing a possible EU civilian mission to further strengthen Moldova's security and resilience. The deployment of such a mission would be another important political sign of the European Union's support for Moldova in the current difficult circumstances,” said Olivér Várhelyi. According to him, the European Commission and the services of the European External Action Service, together with the Member States, are also studying a possible new sanctions regime aimed at individuals who seek to destabilize Moldova. “Despite all the challenges Moldova faces, the second Summit of the European Political Community will be held here in June. I want to assure you that the European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Moldova even in these difficult times. The future of Moldova and its citizens is in the European Union,” the European Commissioner said. // 15.03.2023 — InfoMarket
