The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, Ambassador Jan Tombinski, was today joined by the new Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, Mr Pirkka Tapiola, in addressing the 21st Advisory Board Meeting of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine in Odessa.

The Advisory Board Meeting of EUBAM again saw representatives from the Moldovan and Ukrainian foreign ministries, border and law enforcement agencies of Moldova and Ukraine, and international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and International Organization for Migration (IOM) gather under the chairmanship of Ambassador Tombinski.

During the meeting EUBAM reported on the last six months of activities. The Head of EUBAM, Mr Udo Burkholder, shared with the Advisory Board the results of the 11th Joint Border Control Operation ‘Ovidius’ and customs joint operation ‘Pontus Euxinus’, addressed recent developments in the process of demarcation of the Moldova-Ukraine border, and received the approval of the Advisory Board for the Mission’s Phase 10 activities, which will start in December.

Ambassador Tapiola also congratulated the IOM on becoming EUBAM’s new implementing partner from 1 December.

“We are a busy Mission and there is always more to be done,” reflected Mr Burkholder, “If there is one area where I believe we have contributed greatly to the work of our partners, I think it is in the area of cooperation, where we have been able to facilitate much better collaboration and exchange of information between the border agencies of Moldova and Ukraine, and between them and European Union law-enforcement agencies. This is the key to addressing issues such as cross-border crime, border security, movement of people and goods, and efficient control procedures.”