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.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has shattered the post-Cold War international order built upon East-West interdependence and cooperation. The European Union (EU) - which had tried to pursue a strategic relationship with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 - must now adapt to the geopolitical reality of Russian neo-revisionism. Hugo Blewett-Mundy, an Associate Research Fellow at EUROPEUM Institute, identifies four areas where the EU's policy towards Russia could evolve to confront this emerging security situation in Europe.

In their analysis, researchers Danielle Piatkiewicz and Hugo Blewett-Mundy delve into the most recent obstacles confronting transatlantic security, particularly within the backdrop of Russia's war against Ukraine. They emphasize the imperative of addressing geopolitical challenges while simultaneously striving for strategic independence in economic and energy matters, all the while preserving the common democratic principles that unite these allies. The paper also anticipates the upcoming hurdles in 2024, including a significant election year and the necessity for the transatlantic relationship to fortify its determination for the future.