About EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova
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Aim of the Mission
The aim of the mission, formally established on 24 April 2023 at the request of Moldova’s authorities, is to contribute to the strengthening of Moldova’s crisis management structures and to enhance its resilience to hybrid threats, including cybersecurity, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). To this end, the mission is providing advice at strategic level and actively identifying the needs for capacity building.
The initial mandate of two years was further extended on 20 May 2025, through a decision of the Council of the European Union, until 31st of May 2027. The mandate was adjusted to support an increase in the provision of strategic advice to the Moldovan authorities.
The total estimated budget for EUPM for the mandate 2025-2027 is €19.8 M.
The Mission consists of up to 72 permanent staff members, including international and local staff based in the mission HQ in Chisinau.
The Head of Mission is Cosmin Dinescu. The Civilian Operation Commander is Stefano Tomat, EEAS Managing Director of the Civilian Operational Headquarters (CivOpsHQ).
Mandate of the mission
EUPM Moldova is contributing to enhancing the resilience of the security sector of the Republic of Moldova in the areas of crisis management and hybrid threats, including cybersecurity and countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
For that purpose, EUPM Moldova :
(a) contributes to strengthening the Moldovan crisis management structures focused on the security sector through:
(i) the provision of strategic advice to the Moldovan authorities;
(ii) the identification of needs for organisation, training and equipment;
(iii) the gradual implementation of proposed actions and identified solutions L 110/30 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.4.2023
(b) assists in enhancing resilience to hybrid threats by:
(i) providing advice at strategic level on the development of strategies and policies for countering hybrid threats and FIMI, including disinformation, for enhancing cybersecurity and for the protection of classified information;
(ii) identifying the needs for capacity building in the security sector for early warning, detection, identification, attribution of threats and the response to those threats;
(iii) contributing to the implementation
of the proposed actions and identified solutions;
(c) supports the implementation of the aforementioned tasks by means of a project cell offering targeted operational support, as needed, in line with the Integrated Approach and, as far as possible, in close coordination with other actors.
Factsheet - Two years of EUPM Moldova
Context
The efforts to destabilise the Republic of Moldova have noticeably increased since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and represent a direct threat to the stability and security of the external borders of the EU. 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.
EUPM Moldova was established in April 2023, with the objective of enhancing 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).
With this Mission, the EU supports the Republic of Moldova in increasing its resilience and stability, and in increasing stability and security in the whole region.
Meet the Head of Mission
Cosmin Dinescu was appointed Head of the European Union Partnership Mission in Moldova on 27 April 2023. A career diplomat, holding the rank of Ambassador, with more than 25 years of experience, Cosmin Dinescu was Ambassador of Romania in Lithuania and Latvia (2019-2023) and Croatia (2010-2016) and held high level management positions in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretary General in 2016-2019).
Throughout his diplomatic career, Cosmin Dinescu was involved in bilateral and international negotiations, including as co-agent of Romania before the International Court of Justice, which allowed him to build a strong expertise as a negotiator. During Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the UE (2019), Cosmin Dinescu was chief negotiator for the Council in the trialogues with the European Parliament and the European Commission on consular matters.
For his professional achievements, he was awarded a series of diplomatic and state honors by Romania and Croatia.
Cosmin Dinescu has Bachelors’ degrees in economy and law, a Masters’ degree in Social Anthropology and Community Development and a PhD in law. He is fluent in Romanian (mother tongue), English, French, Spanish and Croatian.