At the opening of the event, Jānis Mažeiks, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said, ”The challenges ahead are real, but we can overcome them together. Moldova and the EU must work together because cooperation builds resilience. I call on the institutions to increase transparency in elections and invest in cybersecurity. I call on the media to respect ethical standards, build trust, and combat disinformation. I call on civil society and international partners to amplify informed voices and support citizens.” Jasmin Frentzel Sørensen, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Chișinău, who was present at the event, noted, "As the Republic of Moldova moves forward on the path of European integration, it is essential to ensure a safe and functioning environment for media organizations, journalists, and electoral institutions. Denmark continues to support independent media, resilient elections, and the fight against disinformation in Moldova.”

The first panel of the conference was moderated by journalist Mariana Rață (TV8) and featured representatives from public institutions: Dana Munteanu (Secretary of the Central Election Commission) and Ana Revenco (Director of the Center for Strategic Communication and Combating Disinformation), as well as experts Vasile Cantarji (VBS-Research Moldova), Andrei Curăraru (WatchDog), and journalist Constantin Hairetdinov (SP, Bălți), presented empirical data on the vulnerabilities of Moldovan society during the electoral period. They also analyzed possible attacks aimed at compromising the integrity of democratic processes in our country. "Vulnerability to attacks can undermine the credibility of public institutions, which is why institutional strengthening is necessary. For a more effective media response to cyberattacks, we need specialization, more professionals, and solidarity," Ana Revenco said.

The second panel discussion, moderated by expert Tatiana Puiu, focused on concrete solutions and measures to strengthen information resilience. Aneta Gonța, vice president of the Audiovisual Council (AC), discussed the application of legal provisions on disinformation and lessons learned from monitoring the two 2024 elections. And Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, the chair of the Parliament's Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport, and Media, reiterated the need to strengthen public and private institutions. "When there are risks to national security, you shouldn't wait for legal provisions to address the issue; you should analyze what can be done," she said. "Strengthening our institutions, including the Audiovisual Council and public audiovisual service providers, is essential. "We must pursue our common interest and work for social cohesion," L. Nicolaescu-Onofrei said. Expert Andrei Curăraru referred to the current geopolitical context, which is characterized by Russian expansionist policies that aim to reconstitute spheres of influence by supporting anti-democratic and anti-Western movements and sentiments. Petru Macovei, director of the Association of Independent Press (API), emphasized the need for media institutions to actively promote democracy rather than merely observe reality.

Following an interview conducted by Gulnara Akhundova (International Media Support — IMS) with Ziarul de Gardă journalists Măriuța Nistor and Natalia Zaharescu — authors of the investigative journalism piece ”In the Service of Moscow" — a discussion ensued about collaborative efforts to mitigate disinformation during election periods among the media, influencers who shape public discourse, and civil society organizations. Roman Shutov (IMS) moderated the discussion, and experts from Moldova presented their views and proposals: Octavian Carteră (Independent Center for Countering Disinformation), Olga Guțuțui (IMS Moldova), Alexandru Manoli (GIZ Moldova), and Natalia Grîu (media education expert). Colleagues from abroad were also present: Besar Likmeta (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Albania), and Vukosava Crnjanski (Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability, Serbia).

At the close of the conference, Lina Botnaru from the EU Delegation to Moldova confirmed that the topics discussed were a priority for the European Union's representation in Moldova and that initiatives to strengthen resilience would continue to be supported.
Participants at the conference emphasized the need for joint efforts and strengthened responses to disinformation campaigns originating from outside sources. Cornel Ciobanu, the Deputy Director General of Teleradio-Moldova, said, ”Today, the role of the media is not only to inform but also to actively contribute to the development of citizens who can think critically and resist manipulation, populism, and disinformation. Several factors affect the quality of journalism and reduce newsrooms' ability to thoroughly monitor and analyze electoral processes: a small advertising market, a shortage of professional journalists, limited financial resources, and a significant number of media outlets that are still politicized or affiliated with obscure influences. I believe that public and independent media outlets should focus on quality journalism and long-term issues that may not have an immediate impact but play a formative role. This is the only way to encourage responsible media consumption and educate the public to understand context, distinguish facts from opinions, and discern truth from lies in an increasingly noisy and polarized information landscape." At the same time, the state needs to step up its efforts to counter disinformation, says Angela Zaharova, a producer at Elita TV in Rezina. ”Last year's election experience showed us that our society is divided, and the situation in the Transnistrian region is likely to worsen. As an institutional challenge for the media, I would emphasize the need to ensure the security of editorial staff and develop crisis strategies. We expect the state to do a better job. In Rezina, for example, three propaganda stations that broadcast from Moscow can be accessed freely. Lastly, there must be better communication with the public because disinformation is less likely where there is communication.”

The event was organized by the Association of Independent Press (API) and International Media Support, and was made possible through the financial support of the Government of Denmark, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova co-financed the event.