Odessa, June 16. Over the past six months, a ‘Borders of Europe’ study course brought together 21 Ukrainian university students for a series of lectures on the European Union. The students learned about European institutions, good governance and anti-corruption standards, EU best practices in combating organised crime and the role of law-enforcement agencies in promoting peace and security. Lecturers included academics, researchers, as well as experts from the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM).

During three training sessions, the students also had an opportunity to enhance their skills in management, negotiations and effective communications.

The course was organised by EUBAM in cooperation with the Odessa-based National University ‘Odessa Law Academy’, National I.I. Mechnikov University, National Economics University, Regional Institute of Public Administration of the National Academy of Public Administration and State University of Internal Affairs.

Two cadets from the Odessa State University of Internal Affairs were among the students completing the course. Oleg, one of them, said that the course would be useful in his profession as a police officer: “This experience was very interesting. What I learnt at the course will come handy in my future tasks and someday, hopefully, I will write a thesis on one of the topics that we studied here.”

“I am planning to continue my education at the Central European University in Budapest, that’s why I use every opportunity to be better prepared,” said Maryna, a student from Odessa National University, who had achieved the highest score in the final test of the course. She received a special award from the EUBAM Head of Mission at a small end-of-course ceremony held on 13 June.

‘Borders of Europe’ is a recurrent initiative; so far some 70 students have completed successfully the course.

The European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine was launched in 2005 to promote border control and customs norms and practices that meet European standards and to serve the needs of Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens and trade. EUBAM activities help advancing economic development and enhancing border security.