Launch of European Commission Border Assistance Mission to the Republic of Moldova and to Ukraine

October 3, 2005.

    On 7 October 2005 the European Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the Foreign Minister of Moldova A. Stratan and Foreign Minister of Ukraine B. Tarasyuk are scheduled to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for a European Commission Border Assistance Mission to the Republic of Moldova and to Ukraine. The mission will help prevent cross border crime, through provision of advice and training to improve the capacity of the Moldovan and Ukrainian border and customs services.
    Media representatives are invited to attend the signature ceremony on Friday, 7 October 2005, 12:00 at the Palanca Border Crossing on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
    The Border Assistance Mission is expected to start operating on 1st December 2005. It has a two year mandate, which can be extended if necessary, and will cost ?7 million. The Mission will comprise 50 EU customs officials and border guards mostly seconded from EU Member States, plus a core team of 10.
    The Mission will consist of mobile teams who will offer on-the-job training to Moldovan and Ukrainian officials, reinforcing the capacity of the existing services to carry out effective controls and surveillance, and thus reducing the risk of cross-border criminal activities such as trafficking in persons, smuggling, proliferation of weapons and customs fraud.
    The aim is to build confidence and strengthen cross-border co operation and the exchange of information between the two countries. It is hoped that improving co operation between the two countries on border issues can also help create the right climate for settlement of the conflict in Transnis! tria.
    The Mission will operate principally on the Moldova-Ukraine State border. Border co operation and efforts to seek a solution to the frozen conflict in Transnistria featured in the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans agreed with both countries last year.
    The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding follows a request made by President of Ukraine Yushchenko and President of the Republic of Moldova Voronin last June.
    For further information please contact Ms Anje Schubert, Press Officer, Tel: (044) 253 30 20, mob. +380667365452 or +373 69499617