President Maia Sandu paid an official visit to the European Union Partnership Mission (EUPM) in the Republic of Moldova, reaffirming the strong partnership between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova in the civilian security sector. This visit comes after the recent decision by the European Union to extend the Mission's mandate for an additional two years, until the end of May 2027, demonstrating the EU's long-term commitment to supporting Moldova's security and stability.

President Sandu commended EUPM's significant contributions over the past two years, which have included support to key initiatives, such as the establishment of the Centre for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation, the Cybersecurity Agency, and strengthening crisis management structures (including support for the creation of a National Crisis Management Centre). These initiatives have substantially enhanced Moldova's crisis response and hybrid resilience capabilities.

Cosmin Dinescu, Head of EUPM Moldova, said that "the renewal and reinforcement of EUPM’s mandate is a testament to the progress achieved and the critical work that lies ahead. EUPM Moldova has proven to be a flexible and effective mission, tailored to address the specific security challenges and hybrid threats that Moldova is facing." He added, "We are committed to continuing our support to Moldova, working closely with the Presidency and other relevant authorities to help foster a resilient and secure future for Moldova."

The visit of President Sandu to EUPM Moldova highlights the strong commitment of the European Union to supporting Moldova's security and stability, and underscores the importance of the partnership between the EU and Moldova in addressing common security challenges. The extended mandate of EUPM Moldova will enable the mission to continue its critical work, providing advice, assistance, and capacity-building support to the Moldovan authorities, and contributing to a more secure and resilient future for the region.

Background

Established in 2023 at the request of the Moldovan authorities, EUPM Moldova is a pioneering EU civilian CSDP mission that aims to enhance the country's resilience to hybrid threats, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities and foreign information manipulation, and its crisis management capabilities.  The mandate of EUPM Moldova was extended for two years, until end of May 2027, through a decision taken by the Council of the European Union on the 20^th of May 2025.