On 19 September 2019, the Head of European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), Slawomir Pichor, visited the headquarters of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, in Warsaw, where he met with its Executive Director, Fabrice Leggeri, to discuss collaboration on strengthening border management in the region as well as other forms of cooperation between the two organizations.
In a broader context, the meeting provided an occasion to discuss recent developments in the Integrated Border Management (IBM) at the EU level, as well as EU cooperation with the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries.
EUBAM Head of Mission briefed on the EUBAM’s contribution to the implementation of the IBM concept in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and fighting cross-border crime in the region, also pointing out the support provided by the Mission to the EU-funded projects dedicated to the Moldova-Ukraine border. The Head of Mission also highlighted the mutual benefits resulted from the long-term close operational cooperation set up between EUBAM and Frontex.
On his side, Frontex Executive Director briefed on the Agency’s recently reinforced mandate as a major step forward in the EU’s collective ability to protect its borders and the opportunity it provides for closer cooperation with non-EU countries. Against this background, Frontex Executive Director informed that the structured cooperation between Frontex and the Eastern Partnership countries would continue and the Agency remained committed to build on the results achieved so far. Additionally, he appreciated EUBAM’s support to the implementation of Frontex’s operational activities in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The parties acknowledged that working together is important for aligning border management systems in the region with EU’s standards and practices and explored ways of strengthening the common efforts of EUBAM and Frontex in that regard.
Head of EUBAM extended to Frontex Executive Director the invitation to visit the Mission’s Headquarters in Odesa to experience on the ground the latest developments achieved in the region with the EU’s support.
