Tulea Condemned Spreading Misinformation about the EU in Moldova

Foreign Minister and European Integration Oleg Tulea had a telephone conversation with the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. During the conversation, the head of Moldovan diplomacy stressed that the government is still involved in the implementation of the Association Agreement and in promoting the country’s European integration. He stated that authorities will continue to pay particular attention to ensuring intensive political dialogue and sectoral cooperation with the EU. Officials emphasized the importance of correct public communication on issues related to the Moldova-EU dialogue, as well as countering misinformation and fake news. “In this regard, Minister Oleg Tulea strongly condemned the recent incident in the Moldovan media of a fabricated letter to a high-ranking European official,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Particular attention was also paid to EU-Moldova cooperation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, the European Union’s ambassador in Chisinau, Peter Michalko, said that fake news was being circulated in Moldova in order to discredit the EU in the eyes of Moldovans. “I was disappointed to say that even in these difficult times, false news and misinformation are disseminated. This is a case of false news about the alleged letter of former Prime Minister Maia Sandu to a member of the European Commission, which puts the European Union in a negative light in the eyes of Moldovan citizens,” he wrote.