Many of the issues Moldova faces are related to Russia’s ongoing war against neighbouring Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to its security, economy, and social stability.
A part of the country’s territory, the Transnistrian region, is under the control of pro-Russian separatists. By cutting gas supplies to the region, which borders Ukraine, at the beginning of 2025, Russia provoked a serious crisis as Moldova is still reliant on the energy infrastructure in the Transnistrian region.
Moldova is also increasingly targeted by hybrid warfare operations by Russia and its proxies, aiming to destabilise the country, its institutions and democratic processes.
In October 2024, Moldovans narrowly approved a constitutional referendum on EU membership, which was supported by a margin of just 0.7 percentage points, despite an alleged large-scale Russian interference, disinformation and hybrid campaign, aimed at undermining support for European integration.
The presidential elections held at the end of 2024 were also very close but ultimately confirmed the support of Moldovans for EU membership and pro-European reforms.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for the autumn of 2025 and are expected to be another critical test for Moldova’s resilience in the face of foreign interference.
MEPs also insist that Moldova should continue preventing the circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
Other challenges include the need for a comprehensive judicial reform in the country. MEPs call on the Moldovan authorities to tackle money laundering and corruption. They also want to see measures strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities and efforts to combat racial discrimination.