Integrated Border Management can be an abstract concept for most travellers and businesses. In essence, it’s about improving communication and co-operation between different government agencies at the border, and also between countries. When it’s implemented well, Integrated Border Management means shorter crossing times for travellers, more efficient controls for cross-border trade and more transparent procedures, which means less room for corruption.
As EUBAM’s Senior Border Police Advisor, I support the Moldovan and Ukrainian border agencies on the development and implementation of their Integrated Border Management strategies. It means guiding both countries through reforms, helping them to unlock EU funding, and finding solutions to the challenges they face.
I can directly relate to the Integrated Border Management reforms Moldova and Ukraine are going through. As well as conducting Schengen evaluations for the European Commission in Greece, Croatia and Poland, I have served with the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Border Police for seventeen years in a range of functions; from conducting controls at border crossing points to helping shape nationwide procedures in a headquarters role. I’ve seen at first hand the challenges, and from my experience I try to offer practical solutions.
Cross-border co-operation is a key element of Integrated Border Management. One of the most interesting parts of my job is supporting Moldova and Ukraine to develop jointly operated border crossing points. Instead of separate controls conducted either side of the border, joint operations mean that the Border and Customs agencies carry out checks together, in one place.
Jointly operated border crossing points are currently being developed in three of the busiest locations on the Moldova-Ukraine border, and when introduced will mean more secure borders, less inconvenience for travellers, and faster controls for legitimate businesses. As everybody knows, time is money, so the less time spent at the border crossing point means less costs for businesses and more profit.
