Moldova

Recent elections in Moldova and Georgia have vital local impacts and can shape both countries’ relations with the European Union and NATO. What direction will they take? How will this affect not only Europe's, but also the world’s security?

The Soviet Union was far from a superpower when the Cold War began. Faced with unmatched American power, Stalin chose to pursue a cautious approach instead of direct military confrontation to exert Soviet influence. While Russia today poses a completely different threat from its Soviet predecessor, Vladimir Putin does share similar geopolitical challenges. Read the commentary of EUROPEUM Institute Associate Research Fellow Hugo Blewett-Mundy for EUobserver.

Last year, Moldovan intelligence services detected Russian funding worth at least half a billion Czech crowns, which was used to stop the prosecution of illegal political activities, incitement to anti-government protests and corruption. EUROPEUM Institute non-resident associate research fellow Hugo Blewett-Mundy wrote a commentary for Seznam Zprávy.

In Moldova, citizens have voted in a referendum to join the European Union as a constitutional goal. The results were close. Martin Vokálek, executive director of EUROPEUM Institute, discusses the issue live on TV Nova.

Moldova is likely to insert a European identity and a pro-European course into the preamble of its Constitution, according to the preliminary results of yesterday's referendum. The Kremlin, which according to the Moldovan government supported the opponents of the referendum, has already questioned the vote. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, commented for ČRo Plus.

Moldovans voted in Sunday's referendum to constitutionally anchor EU accession as a goal for the country. After counting the votes cast, voters decided by a narrow majority to support the country's Western orientation. Current pro-EU President Maia Sandu, who won the most votes in the first round of the simultaneous presidential election, accused "criminal groups" of undermining the referendum. The second round of the head of state election will take place on 3rd November. Žiga Faktor, deputy director of the EUROPEUM Institute and head of Brussels office, commented for ČT24.

The contrast between the old and the new is visible in the streets of Chișinău. Brutalist skyscrapers stand next to places like the Digital Park, a technological hub and symbol of the desire for the modern and innovative. This contrast is also deeply rooted in the political debate about Moldova's identity and future. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Jana Faktor Juzová commented for RTS Serbia.

Moldova stands at a critical juncture that will determine its position within Europe. In the elections on Sunday, the incumbent president Maia Sandu is seeking a second term and a positive result in the EU accession referendum to reaffirm her country’s path towards Europe. But the hybrid threat facing Moldova from Russia will not dissipate, particularly as next year’s pivotal parliamentary elections approach in the tiny former Soviet republic. Hugo Blewett-Mundy, a non-resident associate research fellow from EUROPEUM, analyses the current situation in Moldova and provides an outlook for the country in 2025.

Moldova is rushing to the EU, but how fast? Can it stumble? Sunday sees a referendum on enshrining EU membership in the constitution and the first round of presidential elections, in which the pro-EU Maia Sandu will again stake her mandate. There is a long way to go behind these elections. EUROPEUM analyst Jana Faktor Juzová commented for Courrier des Balkans.

Ukrainian and Moldovan candidacy. What do these countries have to fulfill in order to be admitted to the EU? Is there political will among the Member States to accept new members into the EU? Is the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova also a symbolic gesture toward Russia? Our senior researcher Jana Juzová answers these questions in the studio of ČT24.

Jana Juzová, Senior Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, was a guest on this afternoon's broadcast of Czech Radio Plus, where she spoke about the EU candidate status of Ukraine and Moldova.

The European Union's enlargement policy experienced a shock at the end of February when Russia-attacked Ukraine applied for EU membership. In the following days, Georgia and Moldova - other Eastern European countries with European aspirations and under imminent threat from Moscow - did the same without hesitation. Ukraine's application in particular was met with a very positive reaction from the EU. Our researcher Jana Juzová writes for INFO.cz.