STATEMENT | Moldova shares its experience in countering Russian electoral interference with the European Democracy Shield
The Republic of Moldova offers its experience in combating external interference to the European Union, contributing to the European Commission's new initiative, the European Democracy Shield. Cristina Gherasimov, the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, emphasized that Moldova can play a significant role in strengthening this initiative, drawing on the lessons learned in recent years, particularly in the context of elections.
The European Commission has launched the European Democracy Shield, an anticipated initiative within the European Union aimed at providing new tools to protect democratic institutions across the EU. Cristina Gherasimov, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, addressed this topic during a press conference on November 14. She noted that Moldova can significantly contribute to this initiative based on its experience from two recent elections—held in the fall of 2024 and last year—as well as from a referendum held last fall, during which Moldova faced unprecedented interference from the Russian Federation and its proxies.
Gherasimov explained that these experiences have enabled Moldovan authorities to develop a stronger regulatory framework and implement strategies to counter hybrid attacks and cyber threats against the country's critical infrastructure. She added, “We are already sharing these effective practices with EU member states.”
According to her, this experience positions the Republic of Moldova as a valuable asset in efforts to strengthen and safeguard democracies across the European Union.
The newly launched European initiative, known as the European Shield for Democracy, operates alongside the EU Civil Society Strategy. Both are designed to enhance the protection of democratic values, support independent media, and shield civil society organizations from manipulation and external pressures.
The European Commission indicated that the European Democracy Shield will establish a common framework to address foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.
A key component of this initiative is the establishment of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience. This center will consolidate the expertise of member states and serve as a hub for sharing information, analysis, and best practices to combat disinformation and manipulation.
European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, emphasized that candidate and potential candidate states, including the Republic of Moldova, will have access to the center's expertise and tools to bolster their democratic resilience and enhance their ability to respond to hybrid attacks.
By leveraging the knowledge gained from managing attempts at destabilization and external influence campaigns, the Republic of Moldova is actively aligning itself with European efforts to protect democracy and public institutions.
