Kyiv, 22 of March 2024 — IOM Ukraine's Deputy Chief of Mission, Stephen Rogers, and the Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Mustafa Nayyem, signed a Letter of Intent aimed at enhancing cooperation. Under the umbrella of the EU-funded and IOM-implemented project "EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine (EU for Solidarity Lanes and IBM)" their primary focus is on supporting Ukrainian authorities in the face of ongoing challenges posed by the Russian war against Ukraine.

The collaborative efforts also centre on streamlining the export of essential commodities and agricultural goods through the Ukraine-EU Solidarity Lanes. A significant focus of the joint work from March 2024 to December 2025 will be made on the reconstruction of the "Reni" border crossing point in the Odesa region of Ukraine and other priority border-crossing points and locations, with the total financial support from the European Union totalling EUR 10 million, with the goal to facilitate the development of the transit corridor to the EU Member States.  

This partnership underscores a shared commitment to bolstering resilience and efficiency in the Integrated Border Management and streamlining trade facilitation. By enhancing border infrastructure and facilitating joint control measures, the initiative aims to optimize trade flows and strengthen ties between Ukraine, Moldova, and the European Union.