Last week, EUBAM conducted a series of high-level meetings in Kyiv to enhance cross-border cooperation and address security challenges. Key discussions focused on efforts to bolster border security, combat cross-border crime, and chart the path for the Mission’s future mandate.
On 15 January, Slawomir Pichor, Head of EUBAM, and Lajos Karakas, Head of the Planning, Analysis & Coordination Office/OiC, convened with Serhiy Perkhun, Acting Director of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (ESBU), and his team in Kyiv. The discussions focused on fortifying stability at the Ukraine-Moldova border and addressing shared challenges, including organized crime, smuggling, and illicit trade. The meeting culminated in a renewed commitment to collaborative efforts, including combating transnational crime, conducting joint training sessions, and enhancing ESBU’s analytical capabilities. These discussions build on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2024, reaffirming the mutual dedication to secure borders and regional stability.
On 16 January, EUBAM representatives met with Rolf M. Hay Pereira Holmboe, the Head of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, to strengthen the coordination of activities between the two Missions. The dialogue centred on aligning efforts to promote effective border management and provide strategic advisory support to Ukraine.
Meetings with other high-level officials also included Oleg Golovash, Chief of the Chairman’s Staff of the Security Service of Ukraine; Vladyslav Suvorov, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine; Olha Bokhonska, Director of the Department General for the EU and NATO; and Paun Rohovei, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and focused on EUBAM’s mandate extension. The meetings explored potential initiatives to expand the Mission’s scope, strengthen collaboration, and align priorities for addressing emerging challenges. The engagements provided a platform to exchange insights, explore synergies, and align priorities, ensuring continued progress toward shared goals.
