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 will provide advice at strategic level and identify the needs for capacity building. The total estimated budget for EUPM is €13.4 M for the whole 2-year mandate (24.04.2023 until 21.05.2025). And will consist of 40 international staff and 7 local staff based in mission HQ  in Chisinau.

The Head of Mission is Cosmin Dinescu. The Civilian Operation Commander is Stefano Tomat, EEAS Managing Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC).

EUPM Moldova shall contribute 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 shall:

(a) contribute to strengthening the Moldovan crisis management structures focused on the security sector through:

(i) the identification of needs for organisation, training and equipment;

(ii) the gradual implementation of proposed actions and identified solutions L 110/30 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.4.2023

(b) assist 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) support 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.

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.

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.

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.