The Republic of Moldova is on the front line of hybrid attacks and interference by the Russian Federation, which is why it needs the support of the European Union to counter them. The statement was made by Nathalie Loiseau, chair of the European Parliament’s special committee on the European Shield for Democracy, at the end of her visit to Moldova, IPN reports.
“The Republic of Moldova needs our full support to protect its democratic processes and to counter the manipulation of public opinion and electoral processes,” said Nathalie Loiseau.
The official emphasized that the democracy of several countries is under attack, and hybrid attacks are a different kind of war and we cannot take success for granted, which is why the fight and cooperation between democracies must continue”, said the European official.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to see Moldova’s needs up close, so that Brussels can continue to understand what to focus on.
“It was important for us to see Moldova’s resilience first hand, to assess the effectiveness of our support and to come back to Brussels with recommendations on what we should do to help Moldovans to freely express their will and remain free, independent and democratic,” added Nathalie Loiseau.
The European official welcomed the Republic of Moldova’s decision to follow the path of accession to the European Union, saying that “the EU is honored by Moldova’s decision to join the European project. It is a privilege for us to see sovereign countries freely and independently choosing to join the European Union, a fundamental project of peace and prosperity.”
The delegation of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS), led by its Chair Nathalie Loiseau, concluded its three-day visit to Moldova, which aimed to analyze first-hand the challenges Moldova is facing, especially in the context of hybrid threats and democracy-building efforts, and to reaffirm the European Union’s commitment to support Moldova on this path.
The Special Commission on the European Shield for Democracy was set up by the European Parliament to assess threats to democratic systems in the EU and its neighborhood. The committee examines both state and non-state interference – such as from Russia, China, Iran or influential private actors – and seeks to strengthen Europe’s collective capacity to counter hybrid threats, disinformation and attempts to undermine democratic processes.