Chisinau hosts the European Union Support Center for Internal Security and Border Management (EU Security HUB) from September 18 to 19, 2024. This 11th edition, co-organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), and the Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), along with the EU Partnership Mission to Moldova (EUPM), focuses on countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). Officials, experts from the European Union and the Republic of Moldova, civil society representatives, and investigative journalists specializing in FIMI are participating.
The meeting will cover strategies to combat FIMI from a comprehensive perspective, including experience sharing, best practice analysis, and discussions on the challenges faced by both EU Member States and Moldova in addressing FIMI.
“Foreign information manipulation and interference pose one of the most serious threats to the Republic of Moldova today. These actions threaten not only the integrity and sovereignty of our country but also the security of the entire region. Our response must be swift, effective, and coordinated,” said Adrian Efros, Minister of Internal Affairs of Moldova.
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The European Union plays a leading role in tackling FIMI, a phenomenon that undermines democratic values and processes across Europe and beyond. FIMI exacerbates polarization and division within the EU and poses a security risk. Strong cooperation with external partners is crucial for EU states and partner nations like Moldova in countering FIMI.
“Foreign information manipulation aims to erode public confidence in democratic institutions and can escalate political violence in conflict-prone regions, undermining EU and global peacekeeping efforts. I encourage everyone to develop critical thinking and verify information from multiple sources before sharing on social media,” said Janis Mazeiks, EU Ambassador to Moldova.
Cosmin Dinescu, Head of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova, emphasized the growing threat of FIMI, saying, “One year after our first Hub edition on hybrid threats, we’ve seen an intensification of hybrid threats, particularly FIMI, in Moldova. Significant investments are being made in FIMI operations here. Over the past year and a half, EUPM Moldova has transferred EU-level practices and methodologies to Moldova to help combat FIMI, and this support will intensify, strengthening the security of Moldova and the EU and protecting democratic values.”
The meeting’s thematic panels will focus on civil society collaboration, legal instruments regulating the fight against FIMI, and measures for effective prevention and detection of FIMI. Experts will also examine how FIMI links with other hybrid activities in Moldova, such as illicit financial flows and violent protests, which support disinformation.
The event aims to solidify strategic priorities for state institutions and European partners, establish actionable steps, and reaffirm the commitment to close collaboration in safeguarding regional and European security.