European Council Votes to Further Assist Armed Forces in Moldova, North Macedonia

On the 24th and 25th of April 2025, the European Council formally adopted significant assistance measures aimed at bolstering the defence capabilities of both Moldova and North Macedonia, under the European Peace Facility (EPF). These decisions underscore the European Union’s commitment to supporting its partners in the face of evolving security challenges, as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is now past its 3rd year.

For Moldova, the Council approved the seventh package of assistance, valued at €20 million, to finance the procurement of short-range air defence launchers and missiles. This measure follows closely after the sixth package, which was agreed upon just two weeks prior, providing €40 million to enhance Moldova’s infantry mobility and overall air defence capabilities. Cumulatively, the total support provided to Moldova through the EPF since 2021 now amounts to €197 million. A support expected to continue. In its official press release regarding the decision, the Council explicitly acknowledged the severe challenges Moldova is currently navigating, stemming directly from Russia’s ongoing war of aggression and the deliberate destabilising activities Russia is financing and conducting, particularly within Moldova’s separatist region of Transnistria.

North Macedonia also received substantial support with the adoption of its second assistance package, worth €15 million. This package is designated to provide essential equipment tailored to modern defence needs. According to details released following the Council’s decision, the funding will supply assets for intelligence gathering and surveillance, engineering vehicles, sophisticated communication systems, and advanced combat training equipment. This latest allocation brings the total support extended by the EU to North Macedonia via the EPF to €38 million, significantly contributing to the modernisation and interoperability of its armed forces. Although perhaps less directly exposed than Moldova to the immediate consequences of the conflict in Ukraine, North Macedonia is an important ally of the European Union for regional stability and the European security architecture. As it stands, the country signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU last November, and is actively committed to uphold the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The European Peace Facility is an instrument established in 2021 with the goal of preserving peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening international security. Without surprise, the country most helped by the EPF has been Ukraine, which received €11.1 billion out of a 6-year budget of €17 billion (65%). This is a noteworthy number, especially considering the EPF’s initial budget back in 2021 was €5.69 billion, reflecting the new political landscape.