In Madrid and Malaga, the State Border Guard Service representatives studied the best European practices of establishing coordinating bodies in the framework of integrated border management.

An exploratory visit to the National Coordination Center of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Spain in Madrid and its regional branch in Malaga took place within the project "Support to the European Union in Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine" (EU4IBM) and with the support of the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine.

Representatives of the Customs Service of Ukraine, the Migration Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine also joined the visit.

The Ukrainian delegates were introduced to the functioning of the National Coordination Center, the system of interaction between the agencies involved in its activities, both at the central and regional levels, as well as modern tools for monitoring the situation at the maritime border.

The meeting paid special attention to risk analysis, application of modern programs for collecting, processing and storing information on the detected facts of illegal movement of irregular migrants and drug smuggling. In addition, delegations were introduced to the procedure for cooperation during rescue operations at sea with the involvement of other government services and NGOs, which is carried out under the coordination of the National Coordination Center of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Spain.

This event was organized to study the best European practices of establishing coordinating bodies in the framework of integrated border management in order to develop and determine the best model for the establishment of the National Coordination Center for Integrated Border Management in Ukraine.

According to Jose Bondia, head of the National Coordination Center of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Spain, the establishment of the IBM National Coordination Center in Ukraine before the crisis in the border will avoid many problems and facilitate cooperation in responding to emerging threats.

It is worth recalling that the Strategy of Integrated Border Management in Ukraine meets European standards and effective interdepartmental cooperation is a key aspect of reliable protection and modern development of the state border.