Moldova Hosts Council of Europe Summit to Address Disinformation and Child Protection

Moldova to Host Council of Europe Summit Focusing on Disinformation and Child Protection

The Republic of Moldova will host the ministerial session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE) on May 14-15 in Chisinau, marking the conclusion of the country’s six-month leadership of the institution. The summit will address pressing European issues including human rights, child protection, combating violence against women, regional security, and the fight against disinformation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi announced that approximately 60 delegations will attend the event, including Foreign Ministers and representatives from various European institutions. The high-profile gathering presents Moldova with a strategic opportunity to showcase its progress in strengthening democratic institutions, rule of law, and governance reforms.

“Nearly 60 delegations will participate in this significant event, including representatives from the Council of Europe and the OSCE Secretary General,” Popșoi explained during an interview on Radio Moldova’s “Zi de Zi” program. “We will organize parallel events and working groups on key topics currently on the Council of Europe’s agenda, such as migration and combating disinformation—an extremely important issue.”

Moldova’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe, which began on November 14, 2025, has coincided with the country’s accelerated European integration efforts. Popșoi emphasized that reforms implemented during this period have directly improved citizens’ quality of life and aligned with EU accession requirements.

One significant achievement highlighted by the Deputy Prime Minister was the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, which has established concrete mechanisms for protecting victims of domestic violence and strengthened relevant institutions in Moldova.

The upcoming ministerial session will also focus heavily on support for Ukraine and international mechanisms to hold aggression accountable. Moldova has contributed to initiatives for creating an international tribunal and establishing structures such as a registry of damages and compensation mechanisms for Ukraine.

“Our goal is to maximize the number of delegations present to highlight the progress made by the Republic of Moldova and to secure support, particularly from the member states of the European Union, given our plan to officially open negotiation chapters as soon as possible,” Popșoi added.

The summit comes at a critical time for Moldova’s security concerns. During the interview, Popșoi addressed growing defense cooperation with the European Union, noting that European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas recently announced a new assistance package of 120 million euros to enhance Moldova’s defense capabilities. This follows approximately 200 million euros previously allocated by the EU for similar purposes.

“Given the public debate regarding Russian drones and mechanisms for defending the Republic of Moldova and ensuring the security of our citizens, investing in defense is the best solution,” Popșoi stated. “The Republic of Moldova must also invest in defense if we are to be taken seriously as a state concerned about national security and the safety of our citizens.”

The regional context for this summit remains tense, with Moldova continuing to balance its European aspirations against complex security challenges. At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Chisinau last November, Moldovan authorities reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and emphasized the need to hold Russia accountable for its actions.

Following the conclusion of Moldova’s chairmanship, the Principality of Monaco will assume the rotating leadership of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the next six months.

The Chisinau summit represents one of the most significant international diplomatic events hosted by Moldova in recent years, underscoring the small Eastern European nation’s growing role in regional affairs despite ongoing challenges to its security and sovereignty.