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Moldovan President Maia Sandu unveils the country's new National Security Strategy. / presedinte.md
defence capabilities and create a modern army,” the president said.
The settlement of the conflict in the separatist region Transnistria should be pursued “with the active participation of the European Union and other strategic partners,” Sandu noted. She previously called for the replacement of the Russian peacekeepers with international forces and for the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the separatist territory.
Fighting against corruption is outlined as a part of the security strategy.
“Corruption in the system threatens
the security of Moldova and promotes foreign interference in the internal affairs of the country, including through dirty money obtained from illegal activities,” Sandu argued.
in the national defence system and revisiting the country’s international relations notably in regard to Russia.
The project includes several key areas such as the investment in defence, the peaceful resolution of the Transnistrian
conflict, the fight against corruption and the development of security partnerships with other countries.
“Neutrality does not mean that we should be passive and helpless. On the contrary, it obliges us to strengthen our
EU ministers discuss multi-speed Europe to prepare for enlargement
bne IntelliNews
Ministers from across the European Union discussed issues related to enlarging the bloc to potentially include up to eight additional countries at a meeting in the Spanish city of Murcia on September 28.
The meeting of EU general affairs ministers took place shortly after France and Germany put forward an expert paper calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the EU's decision-making processes and financial structures if the bloc intends to admit additional member countries by 2030.
To enable enlargement of the bloc from the current 27 members, substantial changes are needed to decision-making processes, agricultural policies and regional aid budgets, the paper argues.
The meeting in Murcia, organised by the Spanish EU Council presidency, was intended to prepare for the summit of
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the European Political Community (EPC) on October 5 and the EU Council summit on October 6.
At the meeting, ministers discussed the budgetary implications of enlarging the EU to more than 30 – or potentially more than 35 – member states and
the institutional reforms that would
be necessary, a statement from the Spanish EU Council presidency said. Also discussed was the concept of Open Strategic Autonomy, namely ensuring the capacity to cope alone if necessary but without ruling out cooperation whenever possible.
Spain’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares said that many states want to be part of the EU because they share the same values and aspirations. The meeting "has made progress on the new strategic agenda of the European Union, which will be approved next year
and which supports and is supported by enlargement and Open Strategic Autonomy,” Albares added.
“[EU] reform & [EU] enlargement have to go hand in hand,” wrote Germany's Europe Minister Anna Luhrmann on the X social media platform (formerly Twitter).
“While candidate countries need to prepare, we have to do our homework as well. Looking forward to fruitful debates on how to ensure our capability to act, to protect rule of law and to engage citizens in a bigger EU,” Luhrmann added.
Enlargement progress
There are currently eight countries with EU accession candidate status: five of the six Western Balkan states – Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – as well as Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine. Georgia and Kosovo are potential candidate states.