On May 10, Natalia Stercul, Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE), served as a speaker at a high-level national forum dedicated to Europe Day in Moldova. The event, titled “WOMEN IN CYBER NATIONAL FORUM — EUROPE IS YOU: SECURITY, SOLIDARITY AND MOLDOVA’S PATH,” was organized by the European Institute for Political Studies of Moldova (IESPM).
High-Level Discussion on National Security
Ms. Stercul shared her insights during Panel I: National Security and Democratic Resilience, contributing to critical discussions alongside a distinguished panel of cybersecurity, defense, and international relations experts:
- Mr. Valeriu MIJA, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova
- Ms. Natalia STERCUL, Executive Director, Foreign Policy Association of the Republic of Moldova (APE)
- Mr. Ion TĂBÂRȚĂ, National Security Expert, NATO Information and Documentation Center in Moldova
- Mr. Pierre van den HEUVEL, Senior Advisor on Military-Civilian Cooperation, Host Nation Support, and Crisis Management (The Netherlands)
The session was expertly moderated by Mr. Ion VINTILA, Deputy Director of the National Cybersecurity Agency.
During the panel, Natalia Stercul emphasized that strengthening national security and democratic resilience is fundamental for safeguarding Moldova’s sovereignty, especially as the country advances on its European integration pathway. The APE Executive Director noted that in the face of intensifying hybrid threats and geopolitical volatility, building strong, transparent institutions is crucial to protecting societal cohesion and countering foreign interference. Furthermore, Ms. Stercul highlighted that enhancing Moldova’s security architecture goes hand in hand with fortifying its democratic resilience, constituting a core necessity for the country’s long-term stability and sustainable development.
The Foreign Policy Association (APE) extends its sincere gratitude to the organizers for the invitation to participate in this prestigious event dedicated to Europe Day in Moldova. We highly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to such a vital dialogue.
