6 February 2018

International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Ukraine and Moldova (EUBAM) are launching a new 2-year project “Enhancing Integrated Border Management along the Ukraine-Moldova Border”. The project is financed by the European Union (EU). As it was announced at the opening ceremony in Chisinau on February 6, the project is aimed at refurbishing and equipping – from furniture and servers to weighing and inspection equipment − two border crossing points: Kuchurhan-Pervomaisc and Reni-Giurgiulesti. Thus, over 3 mln people a year will be able to cross Ukraine-Moldova border more easily and faster.

“The flow through these two border crossing points reaches over 3 mln persons and 800,000 vehicles per year. The European Union supports Ukraine and Moldova in strengthening the security of their joint border. We are also working for simpler and faster border crossing for travellers and goods,” Ambassador Hugues Mingarelli, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, noted.

The Kuchurhan-Pervomaisc crossing point is located at the Transnistrian section of the boarder. It is the busiest crossing point of the Ukraine-Moldova border with about 1,800 vehicles and 7,300 persons crossing daily. Both Ukrainian and Moldovan border and customs agencies exercise control together on the Ukrainian side of the border.

The Reni-Giurgiulesti crossing point – Reni on the Ukrainian side and Giurgiulesti on the Moldovan side – is also among the busiest border crossing points. In particular, a high number of export grain trucks cross the border there due to the international trade in the area, where large Giurgiulesti International Free Port and terminals are located.

In addition to the refurbishment of these two border crossing points, the project will help Ukraine and Moldova to establish an automated system for exchange of information on travellers/vehicles and provide equipment to set up a Joint Contact Point at Palanca Jointly Operated BCP located in Moldova.

“Thanks to the excellent cooperation from the Ukrainian Government, IOM Ukraine’s Capacity Building in Migration Management portfolio is one of the largest and most successful in the world. Generously funded by the European Union, improvement of the jointly operated border crossing points will facilitate more secure, transparent, efficient and faster border control and customs procedures aligned with best European practices in Integrated Border Management (IBM),” Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, IOM Ukraine’s Chief of Mission, emphasized.