On 14 May, the 10th meeting of the EUBAM-led Regional Customs Coordination Group between the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine brought together customs authorities and border management stakeholders to discuss operational situation at the border, latest legislative developments, and their impact on border control processes, as well as plans for modernisation and refurbishment regarding border infrastructure. The meeting was also attended by the representative of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission.
The focus of the discussion was the advancement of the coordinated control at the Giurgiulesti-Galati border crossing point (BCP), where the Republic of Moldova and Romania are preparing to introduce this in the near future. The Group welcomed the completion of the legislative process and agreed on the next steps for technical implementation. This initiative follows the launch of joint control between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine at the Reni-Giurgiulesti jointly operated border crossing point (JOBCP) in May 2024. Together, these efforts represent significant progress toward streamlining border procedures and facilitating the movement of goods along the lower Danube region en route Reni-Giurgiulesti-Galati.
The implementation of the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) in the Republic of Moldova was highlighted as a key milestone in aligning the country’s customs procedures with EU standards. The system is currently functioning well at the national level and is scheduled for review by an external evaluation mission in June this year. Full operationalisation at the international level is targeted for 2025.
The participants also gave updates on the situation at the BCPs, noting that while traffic volumes increased during the Easter holiday period, overall operations remained stable and free of major disruptions.
Looking ahead, the Moldovan and Romanian authorities and the Service for Restoration and Infrastructure Development in Odesa Region shared their plans for BCP modernisation in 2025, including in the lower Danube region. They also presented recent results from the use of scanning and scaling technologies, highlighting the added value these tools bring to enhancing trade compliance.
“The progress we are witnessing—both in legislative alignment and practical cooperation—clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine to building smarter, more efficient border control systems. Coordinated control at Giurgiulesti-Galati and the rollout of NCTS are not just technical upgrades; they are milestones on the path toward deeper European integration and greater regional connectivity,” emphasised Head of EUBAM, Slawomir Pichor.
