DrAccording to information from WELT AM SONNTAG, the European Union is planning to send a civilian mission to the Republic of Moldova. The country feels increasingly threatened after Russia’s attack on Ukraine and wrote to Brussels on January 28 asking for support.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is currently working on a so-called crisis management concept, which should be completed this month. In this concept, EAD experts develop proposals for the size, profile and mandate of the planned mission, which must then be approved unanimously by governments.
„The desire to send a civilian mission to Moldova is clear,” said a European diplomat familiar with the talks. Along with Poland, the Baltic States, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Romania and Denmark, Germany is one of the most important backers of the project. Diplomats expect the new mission to begin „in early summer.”
As part of the mission, administrative staff from member states, primarily from the areas of justice, police and customs, are required to advise the former Soviet country of Moldova, also known as Moldova, on how to create an effective security sector. In addition, the European Union wants to send experts to advise the country on combating cyberattacks and disinformation.
In addition to a civilian advisory mission, Moldova is also demanding swift EU sanctions against the pro-Russian oligarchy, more air surveillance (aircraft and radar) and the provision of air defense systems. Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nico Popescu explained this as a guest at the last meeting of EU foreign ministers on February 20.
He urged EU countries to „help quickly modernize Moldova’s outdated systems”. The money for this is said to come from the European Peace Facility (EPF), a financial vessel that has been used to fund conflict prevention and international security measures under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) since March 2021.
In Moldova, which has a population of 2.6 million and directly borders Ukraine, the mood has heated up more and more over the past few weeks. Part of the population is oriented towards the West, while another part is oriented in approximately the same proportion towards the East. Both sides irreconcilably confront each other. Moscow is trying to ignite pro-Russian demonstrations.
Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and suffers from a continuous exodus of Ukrainians from the war zone and intermittent power outages as a result of the destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure due to Russian attacks. Both energy systems are partially connected to each other.
The Government of the Republic of Moldova considers the Russian attack on the country to be a fait accompli. Intelligence chief Alexandru Mostiata said in late 2022 that it was entirely possible that Russian forces would try to „create a corridor into Transnistria”. Transnistria is part of Moldova.
About 500,000 people live there. However, the province has been arbitrarily separated from Moldova, and even has its own pro-Russian government, but it is not recognized internationally. About 1,500 Russian soldiers are stationed there.
Opposition politician Marina Tauber
Source: AP
But more importantly, up to 20,000 tons of Russian-owned ammunition is said to be stored in Transnistria. This would make the breakaway province home to the largest ammunition depot in Europe.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov brought Transnistria back into the spotlight last week. „Of course, the situation in Transnistria is the subject of our greatest concern and cause for concern.” Peskov accused Ukraine of planning „false flag” operations to attack Russian soldiers in Transnistria. The Moldovan government denied these allegations.
