On Friday evening, April 28, the Council of Europe adopted a new framework of specific restrictive measures that offer the European Union the possibility to impose sanctions against individuals responsible for supporting or implementing actions that undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova. The Council issued a press release on this matter.
The EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, mentioned in the briefing note that Moldova is one of the countries most affected by the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Being one of the countries most affected by the consequences of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we are witnessing increased and continued attempts to destabilize Moldova. The new sanctions regime will give us the opportunity to continue to strengthen Moldova’s resilience by targeting those who try to destabilize the country. This is an important political signal of EU support for Moldova in the current difficult context,” said Borrell.
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Thanks to this new framework, the EU will be able to target, for example, individuals who obstruct or undermine the democratic political process or who attempt to overthrow the constitutional order, including through acts of violence. Future restrictive measures could also target individuals who commit serious financial irregularities regarding public funds and unauthorized export of capital, to the extent that they could take control of the state authorities’ activities. Also, sanctions will entail asset freezing and a ban on making funds available to individuals and entities, and a travel ban to the EU for individuals, according to the European Council’s press release.
Referring to the new sanctions regime, Borrell also said that it would provide the opportunity to continue to strengthen Moldova’s resilience by targeting those who try to destabilize the country. “This is an important political signal of EU support for Moldova in the current difficult context,” added Josep Borrell.
It is worth noting that on April 24, the European Union launched the EU civilian mission in Moldova as part of the Common Security and Defense Policy, with the aim of strengthening the security sector’s resilience of the Republic of Moldova in crisis and hybrid threat management, including cyber security and combating foreign information manipulation and interference.