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remains uncertain.
The primary hurdles confronting the incoming government involve implementing constitutional changes to advance the country's EU trajectory. Additionally, addressing energy challenges and managing inflation in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine poses another significant concern.
1.7 Politics - Moldova
Moldova has been given the green light for EU accession negotiations, but remains the target of Russia’s hybrid attacks.
The European Council announced on December 14 the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, once Chisinau takes the steps recommended by the European Commission on November 8. The steps are mainly related to judicial reform and should be met by March 2024, when the Commission carries out another evaluation.
Three targets not yet met by Moldova concern the continuation of the vetting process of the Supreme Magistracy Council (CSM) and the prosecutor's office, the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of Justice and the general prosecutor; providing resources for the Anti-corruption Office, improving its structure; and improving the legal framework aimed at the disappearance of money.
Russia has responded to Moldova’s pro-EU steps with warnings of “hybrid war”.
Speaking at the recent OSCE meeting in Skopje, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Moldova is "the next victim of the hybrid war launched by the West against Russia”.
Lavrov’s rhetoric seems to announce a change in plans on Russia’s side, forced by the modest results delivered by the authorities in the pro-Russian separatist Transnistria region and by the modest performance of Moscow’s newer proxy Ilan Shor, who focused on Gagauzia and the northern part of the country.
There’s no doubt that Russia has carried out extensive hybrid operations on the territory of Moldova since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but so far the damages have been contained by the pro-EU authorities in Chisinau and Transnistria’s officials have avoided
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