91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ

Photo of Viorel Ursu, Moldovan Ambassador to Sweden, during the panel discussion "Democratic resilience, disinformation and EU accession". Photo: Dominick Nilsson

The European Union’s enlargement policy has re-emerged as a central geopolitical instrument in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and sustained destabilization efforts in its neighbourhood. For Ukraine and Moldova, EU accession is no longer a distant aspiration, but an existential strategic choice tied to security, economic development, and democratic survival. At the 2025 SITE Development Day conference, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners gathered to take stock of where the two countries stand on their accession paths, which challenges risk undermining progress, and what role the EU and international partners can play in sustaining momentum. This policy brief synthesizes key insights from the conference discussions, focusing on three interlinked dimensions of accession: economic preconditions and foreign financing, democratic resilience under hybrid threats, and human capital development.

Key points from the FREE Network Policy Brief

• Economic resilience depends on predictable outside financing, but the donor landscape may be shifting, so Ukraine and Moldova may need more tools that mobilize private investment (like guarantees and “de-risking”) and more support in building credible, investable projects.
• Democracy is being tested through external hybrid interference including disinformation, vote-buying schemes, energy manipulation, and pressure on law enforcement. Yet, institutions have not collapsed and can be further strengthened through coordinated cooperation with European partners.
• A credible path towards future EU membership is essential to stem brain drain and stimulate brain gain, creating necessary domestic human capital for long run development. The brief highlights that students study abroad for safety, quality, and economic reasons, but many would also return if EU accession creates long-term stability and opportunity.

Meet the authors

• : Post Doc Fellow, Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE)
• : Deputy Director, Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE); Associate Professor, Stockholm School of Ecnomics (91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ)