Kallas at EU-Moldova Association Council: Russia is likely to use ‘a web of cash, content and coercion’ to try to tilt future vote
Moldova has made good progress on a path towards the EU, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas told journalists on 4 June, in Brussels, after the ninth meeting of the EU – Republic of Moldova Association Council.
“Sustained reforms now will remain essential to keep the momentum up, and the path is very clear: Moldova belongs to Europe,” Kaja Kallas said.
The meeting was chaired by the Moldovan Prime Minister, Dorin Recean. The EU delegation was led by Kaja Kallas. The Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Marta Kos, also participated.
The sides discussed global and regional challenges and bilateral relations, focusing on Moldova’s EU accession process, political dialogue and reforms, cooperation and convergence in the field of foreign and security policy, and economic and sectoral cooperation, in particular in the energy sector, trade and trade-related matters.
They also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has repeatedly spilled over into Moldova, Kallas said after the Council.
“Russia has violated Moldovan airspace, used energy as a tool to blackmail you, and meddled with your democracy,” Kallas said. “Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary elections will be a prime target of Moscow’s hybrid war. Russia is likely to use a web of cash, content and coercion to try to tilt the vote. The Moldovan people have the right to choose their own future free from interference.”
That is why, Kallas added, the EU is extending the scope and scale of the EU’s Partnership Mission to boost Moldova’s resilience.
“We have a specialist team on the ground now supporting Moldova to address illicit financing around the elections. And we recently deployed a group of experts, a Hybrid Rapid Response Team to support Moldova against foreign interference. You can rely on the EU’s support to ensure the integrity of your elections,” EU High Representative said.
Kaja Kallas added that the first ever EU-Moldova Summit would take place in a month and would drive progress across many sectors, from energy to digital and education.
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