The fourth edition of the Regional Conference Money in Politics*, held in Chisinau, Republic of Modova, on 16-17 June 2026 has brought together around 100 representatives of electoral bodies, government officials, and international experts from across Europe to explore the rapidly evolving challenges of political finance and electoral integrity in the digital era.

As part of the Money in Politics regional series launched in 2016 within the Eastern Partnership Countries, the event has become a key platform for exchanging best practices, strengthening democratic resilience, and fostering cross-institutional cooperation across the region.

The discussions focused on the dual threats and opportunities presented by new technologies and digital platforms within political processes. Speakers addressed issues as illicit electoral financing, AI generated fakes, role of cryptocurrencies and online campaigning, foreign interference and other persistent issues.

Among the conference speakers was Mr. Andrii YEVSTIHNIEIEV, a member of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, who shared Ukraine’s experience in fostering public engagement and strengthening trust in political finance oversight. Mr. YEVSTIHNIEIEV underscored, that “the effectiveness of oversight of election campaign financing will never reach its full potential without at least a minimal, and preferably zero, tolerance for violations in this area within society. Such a culture is shaped through the active involvement of civil society institutions in the development of rules of conduct – legal norms – in this field, as well as through sustained awareness-raising efforts that contribute to increasing the level of legal awareness and electoral-legal culture among citizens. Ukraine has significant achievements in this area and continues to actively work on strengthening public trust in election finance oversight.”

Council of Europe’s representatives offered substantive perspectives on the importance of preventive measures and agile institutional frameworks. Mr. Alfred ZAMMIT, Vice-Chair of MONEYVAL, evaluating the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) standards for crypto-enabled political finance, stated: “A state must first understand the risks it faces and put in place effective measures to mitigate them. It is essential to have strong institutions that enable good coordination and efficient information exchange between law enforcement agencies and financial intelligence units.”

Ms. Veronika BÍLKOVÁ, member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in respect of Czechia, addressed the conference on the emerging role of artificial intelligence in electoral processes. She challenged participants to reflect on: “Under what conditions does the use of AI in electoral processes remain compatible with the principles of the rule of law?” Emphasising the importance of democratic safeguards, Ms. Bílková added: “The principle of the rule of law is essential for electoral integrity, as it is a key element of it.”

Throughout the conference, participants agreed that tackling the challenges of money in politics in the digital age requires not only technical adaptation but a cultural commitment to collaboration and continuous learning. Likewise, they highlighted the urgent need for transparent, modernised oversight and institutional collaboration that goes beyond national borders. As the region faces new risks, the Council of Europe and its partners continue to lead efforts in supporting transparent and resilient democratic processes.

• To find out more about the conference: https://moneyinpolitics.cec.md/en.

*The Conference was organised by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of its partners, including the Council of Europe electoral cooperation project in the Republic of Moldova “Improving Electoral Practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028”. The participation of the Ukrainian CEC member was ensured within the framework and with the support of the Council of Europe project “Supporting democratic post-war elections in Ukraine – Phase II”, implemented by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023–2026.