A milestone in Brussels
On 4 June, Brussels welcomed the ninth meeting of the EU–Republic of Moldova Association Council. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean chaired the session, while the EU side was led by the Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, alongside Marta Kos, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
What was on the agenda?
Accession track– reviewing Moldova’s progress on the nine reform priorities and mapping the next steps toward opening negotiations.
Political dialogue & rule-of-law reforms – measuring advances in justice, anticorruption, and public-administration modernisation.
Economy & energy – accelerating interconnectors, diversifying supplies, and expanding zero-tariff trade opportunities.
Guarding democracy against hybrid threats
The Council devoted special attention to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its spill-over effects on Moldova: airspace violations, energy blackmail, and disinformation campaigns aimed at the upcoming parliamentary elections.
To counter these pressures, the EU announced:
- An expanded EU Partnership Mission to boost institutional resilience.
- A Hybrid Rapid Response Team on the ground in Chișinău, tackling illicit financing and foreign interference.
