The European Union constantly supports the stability of the Republic of Moldova
Josep Borrell Fontelles is a Spanish politician serving as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The European Council adopted on Friday, at the request of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, a new framework of restrictive measures that will allow the European Union to impose sanctions against persons responsible for supporting or implementing actions that undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, as well as democracy, the state by law, and the stability or security of the country, reports Newsmaker and Ziarul de Gardă. “As one of the countries most affected by the consequences of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, we are witnessing the increase and continuation of attempts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. The new sanctions regime will give us the opportunity to continue to strengthen Moldova’s resistance by targeting those who try to destabilize the country. This is an important political signal of the EU’s support for Moldova in the current difficult context,” said the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, quoted in a statement issued by the European Council.
The Council claims that thanks to this new framework, the EU will be able to target, for example, people who obstruct or undermine the democratic political process, including the organization of elections, or try to overthrow the constitutional order, including through acts of violence. Future restrictive measures could also target people who engage in serious financial misconduct regarding public funds and the unauthorized export of capital, to the extent that they could take control of or seriously influence the activities of state authorities. The EU specifies that the sanctions will consist of an asset freeze, a ban on making funds available to individuals and entities, and a ban on travel to the EU for individuals. Efforts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova have visibly intensified since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and represent a direct threat to the stability and security of the EU’s external borders.
This framework of specific restrictive measures was adopted at the request of the Republic of Moldova, as the European Council also announced. On April 24, during the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs from the EU member states, the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which took place in Luxembourg, a political agreement was reached for the creation of an EU sanctions regime to counter destabilizing actions against the Republic of Moldova and its constitutional order, an initiative launched by the head of Romanian diplomacy, Bogdan Aurescu, at the CAE on February 20, Ziarul de Gardă recalls. In October 2022, the USA sanctioned the oligarch Ilan or for jeopardizing the elections in the Republic of Moldova in the interest of Russia and Vladimir Plahotniuc for systemic corruption. In December 2022, the UK also imposed sanctions against the two oligarchs, according to Moldovan media.
By Sara Colin
