5 October 2017

Integrated border management, countering trafficking in human beings and the reform of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) itself were in focus at the meeting between IOM Ukraine Chief of Mission, Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, and the Head of SBGS, General-Lieutenant Petro Tsyhykal.

The State Border Guard Service has been one of IOM Ukraine’s key counterparts for more than ten years. This cooperation includes assisting the SBGS with enhancement of its legal framework, institutional setting, human resources management and staff training programmes, as well as improving its infrastructure and equipment. 

“Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, and its over 150 international border crossing points require extremely qualified work from all the border guards. In order to do so, they need to be fully trained and knowledgeable of all the international standards,” noted Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss. He shared his positive impressions from the interaction with border guards at Boryspil airport upon his arrival to Ukraine about a month ago, as well as from the transparency hotline details displayed at the passport control. “This is a very good example of transparent approaches to migration management matters,” said IOM Ukraine’s Chief of Mission, adding that IOM stands ready to further support the SBGS reforms.

General-Lieutenant Petro Tsyhykal thanked IOM for its ongoing assistance to the Ukrainian border guards. “The main goal of our integrated border management concept is the further approximation of Ukraine to the common European security space,” he underlined.

Currently, IOM and SBGS partner under the EU-funded IMMIS project, which strengthens the information exchange system for the benefit of the State Border Guard and the State Migration services, while simultaneously increasing the efficiency and the effectiveness of service provision to the citizens of Ukraine and foreigners. The equipment, which is currently being delivered to SBGS, will facilitate real-time data exchange between the State Border Guard Service units, as well as data storage.

Within the “New Face of the Border” project, funded by the U.S. Department of State, IOM supported re-staffing of the two major entry points to Ukraine – Boryspil international airport and Krakovets on the Ukrainian-Polish border. IOM also designed an e-recruitment system, provided its software and hardware, developed modern hiring procedures, updated training programmes for border guards, including English language courses, and assisted with recruitment advertising. IOM also facilitated engagement of EU and national experts to ensure transparency and impartiality of the recruitment process. The official ceremony launching the new service in Boryspil airport is scheduled for the end of October.