On 6 February, Slawomir Pichor, Head of EUBAM, held a series of meetings with the upper management of its key partners in the Odesa region to address the situation at the border and the unwavering EUBAM support to Ukrainian border and customs authorities.

In his meeting with Brigadier General Yuriy Petriv, Head of the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the primary topic was combating illegal migration – a persistent challenge in the area. Brigadier General Petriv emphasized the ongoing efforts of the border guards to enhance technical control measures to curb illegal crossings.

Infrastructure development was the key focus during discussions with Oleksandr Kabachynskyi, Deputy Head of the Restoration and Infrastructure Development Service in Odesa region. Due to uncertainties surrounding the USAID funding, some projects have been temporarily put on hold. As a result, alternative solutions are being considered, including seeking new donors or leveraging internal resources for implementing initiatives.

At the meeting with Andrii Koliver, Acting Head of Odesa Customs, the discussions centered on advancing customs transit declarations through the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS), a Europe-wide digital tool enhancing goods management and control. Additionally, they examined prospects for expanding joint-control border crossing points to streamline operations.

“EUBAM remains committed to supporting Ukraine in adopting European best practices in border and customs management, reinforcing regional security and economic resilience,” emphasized Slawomir Pichor.