On 8 February, the Head of EUBAM, Slawomir Pichor and his team had a pivotal meeting with the Director of the Moldovan Customs Service, Igor Talmazan, to chart the course of collaborative efforts for the upcoming year.

The discussions centered on both parties’ mutual goals and objectives to strengthen cooperation and enhance border management capabilities. The main topics addressed during the meeting included recent developments within the Moldovan Customs Service and EUBAM and the priorities and expectations outlined by the Moldovan Customs Service considering the extension of EUBAM’s mandate for an additional two years.

A focal point of the meeting was the ongoing support for the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative, encompassing road, rail, and river Border Crossing Points (BCPs). Both parties engaged in substantive talks regarding the effective execution of this initiative and explored avenues for maximizing its impact on cross-border trade and security.

Furthermore, the meeting provided a platform to address issues about border management at the Moldova-Ukraine border, mainly focusing on areas where EUBAM’s expertise and support could be instrumental, like implementing the new Customs Code and relevant training for its enforcement.

The Head of EUBAM expressed the Mission’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Moldovan Customs to foster EU integration, regional collaboration, and economic development.