Ambassador Holland commends Deputy Prime Minister Mihail Popșoi
for Moldova's democratic reforms and resilience in the face of
Russian hybrid threats, emphasising the UK's continued support
for its European integration. He highlights the complementary
roles of the OSCE and Council of Europe and underscores the need
for accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
"Thank you, Mr Chair. Deputy Prime Minister Popșoi, welcome to
the Permanent Council today, and thank you for your insightful
remarks.
The United Kingdom remains a strong and consistent supporter of
Moldova's European integration path. We commend the sustained
progress your government has made on democratic reform, rule of
law, and the protection of fundamental rights. At a time when
democratic processes across our region are under unprecedented
strain, Moldova's direction of travel is both encouraging and
significant.
Over the past two years, Moldova has demonstrated remarkable
resilience in the face of sustained and coordinated hybrid
threats originating from Russia. These have included
disinformation campaigns, energy coercion, and attempts to
undermine the integrity of Moldova's electoral processes. Despite
these pressures, Moldova has safeguarded its democratic
institutions and upheld the will of its citizens. This is not
only an achievement for Moldova; it is an example from which all
participating States can learn. You have shown that even in
today's challenging security context, democratic resilience is
both possible and powerful. We congratulate you.
The UK strongly believes that building and sustaining this
resilience is a shared endeavour. The tools and institutions of
the OSCE – particularly the expertise of ODIHR – remain essential
in supporting credible elections, rule‑of‑law reforms, and the
protection of human rights. Equally, the Council of Europe
continues to play a vital role in bolstering democratic
standards, judicial independence, and human rights protections
across the wider region. Together, these organisations form a
complementary framework that helps participating States defend
and strengthen their democratic institutions.
In this context, we also highlight the vital work underway in
Strasbourg on accountability for Russia's ongoing aggression
against Ukraine. Ensuring justice for victims, and upholding the
international rules‑based system, must continue to be central to
our collective efforts.
As well as supporting Ukraine, the Council of Europe can play a
vital role in tackling Foreign Interference in Elections,
something which Moldova witnessed last year. Separately,
Ministers are due to agree a Political Declaration on the
contemporary challenges posed by irregular migration and the
situation of foreigners convicted of serious offences. It would
be interesting to know how Moldova plans to use its Presidency,
including the forthcoming Foreign Ministerial, to deal with those
issues.
Deputy Prime Minister, the United Kingdom will remain a committed
partner to Moldova as you continue to advance democratic reforms
and pursue your European future. We look forward to deepening our
cooperation across both the OSCE and the Council of Europe.
Thank you, Mr Chair."
