The political orientation of the Republic of Moldova towards European Union integration has reopened the doors to the traditional partnerships that our country had in the past in the field of the national security.
The external assistance package for the national security system, which also included assistance for the Ukrainian refugee crisis, has reached a ten-figure number just for the last year because of the war and multiple threats putting pressure on the whole European continent.
External partners and Moldova have been targeting an injection of capital and expertise that has focused on increasing the capabilities of the defence system, internal affairs, technology, intelligence and other law enforcement institutions.
Starting from the immediate financial intervention on the refugee crisis, where a prompt response was needed in managing the major flow of people across the state border, building up the infrastructure to provide accommodation and ensure conditions for a decent living, to systems for strengthening Moldova’s defence capabilities by developing the airspace surveillance system, mobility, and communications capabilities of the National Army.
Thus, the National Army, through the European Peace Facility (EPF), has received €47 million in assistance since 2021. The assistance consisted of medical and engineering equipment to help civil authorities in crisis or emergency situations. The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council approved this year a new €40 million assistance package for the National Army to strengthen Moldova’s defence capabilities. The contribution of European states and the EU will continue.
The Internal Affairs, which has been under pressure from the first moment of the war, has also been on the radar of international partners, with budgets totalling over €42 million for 2022.
Here, the external support had a wide range of approaches to areas of intervention. The internal affairs system has been supplied with dozens of electric generators as an alternative source of energy to escape Russia’s blackmail of a blackout. This ensured the continuous operation of state border crossing points, the 112 emergency service, rescue and fire stations, police inspectorates, so that citizens do not suffer from power cuts. At the same time, temporary refugee camps and accommodation centres were provided with heat and electricity.
The infrastructure and energy efficiency of some border police subdivisions and national police headquarters has also been upgraded by rebuilding some sectors, repairing and equipping them with energy efficiency equipment. A new border point with Romania has also been established.
The mobility of the security bodies has been increased, in the case of the Ministry of Internal Affairs by more than 150 cars and vehicles.
The General Inspectorate of Border Police has been equipped with the latest technologies for the ground and air surveillance of the state border, IT devices for document scanning and other facilities for connecting to international databases.
The National Police has received from the partners an injection of technology for the forensic laboratory, weapons marking technology for the operationalization of the National Weapons Register, specialized software for other specific areas of activity.
The Republic of Moldova would hardly have withstood the challenges of the border war and the energy blackmail that has reduced the state budget if it had not been for the financial intervention of Western states.
At the same time, all national security system structures have benefited from exchanges of experience and training in their areas of activity and have made information visits to counterpart institutions in partner countries. Tactical exercises that brought together experience, the latest technology and integrated inter-agency and multinational working have also been organised both nationally and in other partner countries.
The intervention of European states in Moldova’s national security system demonstrates on the one hand the recognition of our development capabilities, as well as the integration of our country into the European security system, which already includes Moldova as a candidate country for the EU membership.
The organization of the EPC Summit on June 1 is a clear and direct message to Moldova that our country is ready to take care of all high-level European dignitaries, that Moldova is a producer of international security and that our country is already part of the European family of security structures.
