The Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsygykal met with the Head of European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) Slawomir Pichor at the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The meeting between the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsygykal and the Head of European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) Slawomir Pichor took place at the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine today, on the 4^th of March, 2019.

During the meeting negotiating parties have discussed the most relevant points of cooperation, among which further development of joint control, improvement of joint risk and threat assessment and other important aspects of cooperation development.

We must admit that EUBAM fully supports the strengthening of the Ukrainian – Moldovan border, reformation and development of the border authority of Ukraine and remains a reliable strategic partner of the SBGS of Ukraine for many years.

During the meeting implemented mission's initiatives in 2018 were discussed. In particular, during last year with the assistance of EUBAM Mission were conducted 49 activities, 3 Coordination meetings of EUBAM mission and 18 working meetings at experts level.

The Head of the SBGS of Ukraine highlighted  the important role of EUBAM in reconstruction of the joint checkpoint “Palanka” on the territory of Moldova. This checkpoint was opened on the 28^th of December, 2018 with the participation of the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Moldova. Also Petro Tsygykal pointed out that Ukrainian side is actively preparing for the opening of the joint contact point “Palanka”.

Moreover, during last year with the aid of Mission the complex of measures  were conducted  for the preparation and implementation of joint law enforcement operations on counteraction smuggling of tobacco products and illegal circulation (distribution) of weapons, ammunition, chemical (biological) and nuclear materials through the Ukrainian – Moldovan state border. This once again confirmed the relevance and high level of cooperation between the border guard authorities of Ukraine and Moldova.

At the same time, trainings on working with information system AFIS on implementation into working process  of SBGS analytical units of CIRAM risk analysis model and videoconferencing with the checkpoint “Kuchurgan” in order to improve the interaction between the field office and the interacting partner services were organized under Mission support.

Also during the meeting the Head of the SBGS of Ukraine mentioned the initiative on establishment of a joint inter-agency analytical group of risk assessment in Odessa region and the Protocol of the establishment of an inter-agency group in order to conduct a regular assessment of the risks and threats connected with trans-border crime in Odessa region, which was signed on the 1^st of March, 2019 by the regional leaderships of the State Border Guard Service, the State Customs Service, the National Police and the State Security Service. . It was mentioned that this kind of analytical group will become an important instrument in the condition assessment of the border security in the region.

The Head of the SBGS of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the Head of Mission for the meeting and a constructive approach in resolving issues on strengthening of Ukrainian – Moldovan cooperation in the area of Integrated Border Management.

 “I am confident that the level of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies on issues of joint border protection, in close cooperation with European colleagues will continue to develop in future, in a spirit of partnership and mutual understanding” , – said the Head of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Petro Tsygykal.