On 28 November 2018, the 31st Advisory Board Meeting of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine took place in Chisinau in the presence of representatives from the Foreign Ministries, border, customs and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the European Union Delegations to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and United Nations Development Programme.
EUBAM’s continuous and active cooperation with its Partner Services was welcomed by the Advisory Board that highlighted the Mission’s efforts towards, among othere, strengthening Intellectual Property Rights protection, as well as its support to implementing a mechanism for access of passenger vehicles from Transnistria to international road traffic. The Partner Services’ efforts in developing the Road Map laying out the expansion of the joint control to the border crossings points at the Moldova-Ukraine border for the period 2019-2022 were appreciated by the Board that expressed also gratitude to EUBAM for facilitating its development process. At the same time, the Board urged the Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities to advocate and effectively support the enactment of measures aimed at a more effective fight against cigarettes smuggling in the region.
European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Peter Michalko highlighted the EUBAM’s continued contribution to regional stability and stated that ”EUBAM renewed mandated is a demonstration that the European Union remains fully committed to working with Partner Services in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the interest of their citizens”.
Stephan Dahlgren, representing Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, encouraged Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to complete the border demarcation between the countries. Mr Dahlgren also noted that a draft Road Map for Joint Border Control at Ukrainian-Moldovan border has been presented, and encouraged that a detailed and complete version of this Road Map would be prepared in the nearest months to be approved by all stakeholders.
Ms Tatiana Molcean, State Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova appreciated EUBAM’s contribution in practical terms to the significant progress on the implementation of integrated border management, carrying out joint operations, strengthening institutional capacity and staff training, particularly, of specialists from both banks of the Nistru River working in the Vehicle Registration Offices, established within the mechanism for access of vehicles from transnistrian region to international road traffic. „At the same time, we remain convinced that we should foster cooperation in order to extend the joint border control, especially on the central part of the border with Ukraine, by reason of ensuring stability and security in the region and provide riskless conditions for the business community to develop safe economic activities”, she stated.
Ambassador Viktor Kryzhanovskiy, Special Representative of Ukraine for the Transnistrian Conflict, appreciated EUBAM’s contribution to strengthening the institutional capacities of Customs and Border services of Ukraine, enabling reforms for the implementation of the Association Agreement DCFTA commitments. “Our close cooperation with EUBAM on border and customs management corresponds to the Ukraine-EU key priorities of cooperation for this year. Strong IBM is crucial in in both countries and considered as a string symbol of the EU’s leading role in ensuring peace and security in Europe”, he concluded.
Head of EUBAM Mr Slawomir Pichor noted that: “The end of the first year of EUBAM’s renewed mandate finds us with major developments that make us looking with confidence to the future. The good work between EUBAM and its Partners has brought the implementation of our working program at a good pace, all the foreseen activities being well advanced. Therefore, together, we have experienced tangible progress in all three dimensions: confidence building measures, integrated border management and tackling cross border crime.”
The Advisory Board Meeting will meet again in Odessa in June 2019.
