On strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian hybrid threats and malign interference

B100363/2025

European Parliament resolution on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian hybrid threats and malign interference

(2025/2811(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the programme of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which pledges to advance Moldova’s accession process this year,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Moldova has the right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any hostile foreign interference; whereas at the same time Moldova continues to face entrenched corruption, oligarchic influence and institutional fragility, which external actors routinely exploit;

B. whereas the Danish Presidency has signalled its intention to accelerate Moldova’s accession process; whereas the relentless push for enlargement is driven by an ideological agenda that exploits narratives about ‘Russian hybrid threats and malign interference’ as a pretext to justify and accelerate Moldova’s integration into the EU;

C. whereas the sense of emergency built around ‘Russian hybrid threats and malign interference’ aims to deflect attention from Moldova’s core problems of pervasive corruption, a weak economy and fragile institutions, which cannot be remedied by EU membership;

D. whereas the EU’s enlargement policy risks entangling the EU in costly commitments at the expense of European taxpayers, who would be forced to bear the financial burden of a corrupt and unstable state like Moldova;

E. whereas the sentencing of the Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, to seven years’ imprisonment, together with the persistent restrictions imposed on the activities of opposition parties, raises serious concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in Moldova; whereas the Moldovan authorities need to put an immediate end to such practices in order to create the conditions necessary for credible progress towards the opening of EU accession negotiations;

1. Condemns the substantial Russian interference in Moldova and other eastern European countries; notes that the European Union likewise exerts significant influence in Moldova, i.e. through financial assistance, conditionality mechanisms and political engagement, which can shape domestic policies and the country’s geopolitical orientation;

2. Strongly opposes the acceleration of Moldova’s EU accession under the Danish Presidency, particularly when justified by the narrative of ‘Russian hybrid threats and malign interference’, which serves as a convenient pretext to advance an ideological enlargement agenda that disregards the interests of European citizens;

3. Condemns the use of ‘Russian hybrid threats and malign interference’ as a manipulative tool to create artificial urgency for Moldova’s EU integration, diverting attention from the country’s pressing need for internal reforms to combat corruption, strengthen the rule of law and rebuild its economic fabric;

4. Criticises the Commission and the Danish Presidency for the ideological bias in leveraging the narrative of Russian interference to push for enlargement, which inflames tensions with Russia and neglects the pressing needs of European citizens, such as border security and economic stability;

5. Calls for Parliament, in the light of well-founded doubts regarding the fairness and transparency of the electoral process during the 2024 presidential elections and referendum in Moldova, to ensure the presence of representatives from all political groups to observe the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 September 2025, so as to monitor possible irregularities and guarantee full democratic scrutiny;

6. Calls on the Commission to cease all EU macro-financial assistance, budget support and any other financial aid to Moldova; insists that EU taxpayers must not be compelled to subsidise persistent governance failures abroad and that EU tax revenues must be used first and foremost for the benefit of EU citizens;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.