2024 marked the third year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova facing unprecedented challenges. Despite these hardships, they have made remarkable progress in their EU accession journey, strengthening cross-border cooperation and customs management.
The Mission has continued to support the Ukrainian trade and EU-UA Solidarity Lanes. Our third International Trade Facilitation Forum gathered decision-makers from partner countries and the EU Commission to discuss the transformative nature of the Lanes, which have evolved from an emergency measure into a strategic tool for enhancing EU connectivity and regional cooperation. Significant progress has been made with the establishment of joint control at the Kuchurhan-Novosavitskoye rail border crossing point (BCP) and the Reni-Giurgiulesti BCP at the Moldova- Ukraine border while envisaging coordinated control at the Giurgiulesti-Galati BCP at the Moldova-Romania border will pave the way for further improvements in the region’s cross-border trade.
The war in Ukraine increased pressure on illegal migration, further fuelling organised crime. To help our partners address this challenge, EUBAM organised a series of targeted training sessions on migrant smuggling, document security, and behavioural analysis, among other key areas. With Ukraine introducing criminal liability for goods smuggling, EUBAM strengthened cooperation with the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, the agency leading the fight against economic crimes. EUBAM ramped up its support through joint operations to combat customs fraud, enhance information exchange, and detect illicit cash flows – particularly at Chisinau Airport, which the adversary attempted to exploit as a channel for funding illegal activities.
The Mission continued to actively support stronger and more effective border security through a series of capacity-building events, including Train the Trainer programmes to maximise outreach and long-term impact. In total, eighteen training sessions were held, engaging over 530 officers. Equally important to these capacity-building efforts, EUBAM provided essential technical equipment worth nearly EUR 600,000, responding to specific needs identified by partner services to enhance border management further.
“The EU’s and EUBAM’s support remain essential for regional stability through initiatives like the EU-UA Solidarity Lanes and the continued focus on enhancing security and tackling organised crime. As we move forward, we must stand united to overcome the greater challenges ahead,” emphasises Slawomir Pichor, Head of EUBAM.
Read the report here: https://eubam.org/publications/eubam-annual-report-2024/
