eGA and NATO join forces to strengthen Moldova’s cybersecurity capacity
The Estonian e-Governance Academy has recently partnered with NATO to align Moldova’s cybersecurity with Euro-Atlantic standards and institutions, with the aim to bolster Moldova’s capacity to deal with security threats in the cyber domain.
This cooperation will contribute to improving regional stability and security, especially against the backdrop of the ramifications stemming from Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine.
Hannes Astok, the Executive Director of e-Governance Academy, pointed out: “This collaboration with NATO underscores our Academy’s commitment to supporting the development of secure digital infrastructures in Moldova. It is proof of the expertise and trustworthiness that eGA brings to advancing cybersecurity, marking the start of a promising partnership.”
As part of NATO’s Enhanced Defence and Related Security Capacity Building Package, the e-Governance Academy will assess the current situation and growing needs of the beneficiaries in the domain of cybersecurity. This will serve as the starting point for future venues of cooperation and support. The initial step involves a scoping mission to Chisinau and meetings with donors and beneficiaries to better understand the cybersecurity capabilities and growing needs of Moldova’s public sector.
Merle Maigre, Head of the Cyber Security Competence Center at eGA, emphasised the importance of the initial scoping mission in Moldova, describing it as a foundational move towards building a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that will also outline specific activities for future projects. “By working closely with NATO, we integrate our expertise and resources to create and secure a resilient cyber environment, essential for national and regional stability,” she added.
Since 2022, the e-Governance Academy has been involved in increasing the cyber resilience of Moldova’s public, defence, and critical infrastructure sectors, including through projects like the Cybersecurity Rapid Assistance and European Peace Facilities funded by the European Union. These efforts led to the launch of a Cybersecurity Act and the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Agency in Moldova in 2023. Further legislative amendments are expected to reinforce cybersecurity throughout the country’s institutions, in addition to continuous capacity-building efforts.
NATO‘s initial Defence Capacity Building (DCB) package for the Republic of Moldova was unveiled in June 2015. At the NATO Madrid Summit in June 2022, NATO Allies agreed on a package of tailored support measures to strengthen Moldova’s resilience and develop its security and defence capabilities. This led to the subsequent approval of a Enhanced Defence Capacity Building Package by NATO Defence Ministers, at their meeting in Brussels in February 2023. The assistance that NATO provides to Moldova is based on concrete requests for support expressed by the Moldovan authorities and is provided with full respect for the country’s constitutional neutrality.