CALC at the International Workshop on Hybrid Threats and External Interference

On 6–7 November, members of the Council of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (CALC) participated in the workshop “Hybrid Threats and External Interference in the EU Neighborhood”, organized in Chișinău by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), in partnership with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

The event brought together 25 security researchers and experts from Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Moldova, creating a platform for strategic dialogue on hybrid risks faced by countries in the EU’s neighborhood.

Throughout the two days, participants discussed:

• cyber threats,

• illegal political financing and electoral corruption,

• disinformation and information manipulation,

• democratic vulnerabilities in electoral contexts.

CALC was represented by Polina Panainte, Secretary of the Coalition, who took part as a speaker. In her presentation, she highlighted CALC’s experience in monitoring electoral processes, identifying risks of external interference, and strengthening societal resilience through transparency and interinstitutional cooperation.

Participants also learned firsthand about the measures undertaken by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to counter external interference in the context of parliamentary elections, as well as lessons applicable across the region.

The workshop was organized within the framework of the project “The Network of Research Centers in the Eastern Partnership Region”, implemented by DGAP with the support of the European Union.