On 19-20 February, the meeting on implementation of joint control on the Moldova-Ukraine border was held at EUBAM HQ in Odesa. It brought together representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Border Police of the Republic of Moldova, the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova respectively.

Participants of the meeting discussed border and customs issues related to launching of full-fledged joint control at ‘Kuchurhan – Pervomaisk’ and ‘Giurgiulesti-Reni’ border crossing points (BCPs). In this respect, the procedures on return of persons and goods were elaborated.

Beyond that, border and customs agencies’ representatives of the two countries exchanged views on further steps towards implementation of joint control at other BCPs on the Moldova-Ukraine state border.

Background information: Modernization and rehabilitation works at ‘Kuchurhan – Pervomaisk’ and ‘Giurgiulesti-Reni’ border crossing points are executed in the framework of the ongoing EU project ‘Enhancing integrated border management along the Ukraine-Moldova border’, implemented by IOM Ukraine (duration of the project: 01 November 2017 – 01 August 2020). Since ‘Palanca-Maiaky-Udobne’ jointly operated border crossing point (JOBCP)  was launched in December 2018, ‘Kuchurhan – Pervomaisk’ and ‘Giurgiulesti-Reni’ are the consequent JOBCPs on the Moldova-Ukraine state border, modernized with EU support after the new Agreement on joint control was signed by the Governments of Moldova and Ukraine in October 2017.