The European Union has condemned Russia's decision to limit the extension of the OSCE Mission to Moldova's mandate to six months instead of the standard one year, calling the move an isolated and unsubstantiated position that undermines the mission's work. In an interpretative statement delivered at the OSCE Special Permanent Council No. 1570 on 29 June 2026, the EU expressed deep regret over Russia's arbitrary restriction, noting that the Brussels OSCE Ministerial Council decision 18/06 reaffirmed that mandates for field operations should be for one year when the host country concurs. The EU argued that the six-month extension imposes a heavy administrative burden on the mission, especially as Moldova continues to face consequences from Russia's war against Ukraine. Despite its objections, the EU joined consensus to extend the mandate by six months, citing the importance of allowing the mission to continue its work in facilitating dialogue for a lasting political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, based on respect for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU called on Russia to reconsider its position and allow a return to one-year extensions as agreed at the 2006 ministerial meeting. Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine aligned with the EU statement.
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