22/05/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 22 May, the Council of the European Union officially launched the Common Security and Defence Policy civilian mission in Moldova (EUMP Moldova), which will be inaugurated in the margins of the European Political Community summit on Thursday 1 June in Chișinău (see EUROPE 13168/3). The mission will be led by Romanian diplomat Cosmin Dinescu, while the Civilian Operations Commander will be Stefano Tomat from Italy. The EUMP Moldova mission will work to support the resilience of Moldova’s security sector at a time when, according to the EU, efforts to destabilise the EU candidate country have increased since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Proud that a compatriot is leading this mission, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu expressed his hope that a first list of people sanctioned by the EU for attempting to destabilise Moldova would soon be adopted. (MB)