PRESS RELEASE - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a resolution issuing a strong warning against continued Russian attempts to derail Moldova’s pro-European trajectory.

The text, approved by 508 votes in favour, 53 against and 104 abstentions, vehemently condemns Russia’s escalating malicious activities, interference and hybrid operations ahead of Moldovans going to the polls to vote in the country’s presidential election and constitutional referendum on EU integration on 20 October. MEPs highlight the role played by a plethora of malicious actors, including pro-Russian Moldovan oligarchs and Russia’s state-funded RT network, in carrying out voter fraud schemes as well as cyber operations and information warfare. They also call on the EU and its member states to ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to Moldova to strengthen its institutional mechanisms and ability to respond to hybrid threats.

Russia’s destabilising actions in Moldova

According to MEPs, Moldovan security services recently stated that Russia has spent approximately €100 million to undermine the upcoming electoral process in order to get Moldovans to vote against closer ties with the EU. On 3 October 2024, Moldovan authorities uncovered a large-scale voter fraud scheme financed by Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, involving $15 million being transferred to 130 000 Moldovans as part of a voter bribery operation. Condemning these tactics, Parliament calls on Russia to respect Moldova’s independence, cease provocations, and withdraw military forces from its territory. In addition, it repeats its previous calls for all ammunition stored in the Cobasna depot in the Transnistria breakaway region to be destroyed.

MEPs call for additional sanctions against political actors destabilising Moldova

Against the backdrop of increasing Russian interference, the resolution calls on the Council to adopt further EU sanctions against individuals undermining Moldova’s sovereignty. MEPs also urge countries and territories hosting wanted Moldovan fugitives like Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc to extradite them to Moldova for trial.

Additional support for Moldova’s EU accession

The European Parliament reaffirms its support for Moldova’s path towards EU accession, calling on the European Commission to include the country in the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and to prioritise funding for EU candidate countries in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. With EU accession talks with Moldova already having begun, MEPs call for a faster screening process and the timely organisation of the subsequent intergovernmental conferences.

To boost Moldova’s resilience against hybrid threats, Parliament urges the EU to continue to strengthen cooperation with the country in the fields of strategic communication, support for journalists and civil society and the promotion of independent Russian-language media content.

Background

The EU has previously imposed sanctions on Moldovan oligarchs and pro-Russian actors, including Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc, Igor Ceaika, Gheorghe Cavaliuc and Marina Tauber. Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in June 2022. In December 2023, the European Council agreed to open accession negotiations with Moldova.

Further information

The adopted text will be available here (09.10.2024)

Watch a video recording of the plenary debate (08.10.2024)

Press release: "Parliament pushes for start of EU accession talks with Moldova" (05.10.2023)

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