The European Union's project “Strengthening capacities and cooperation in the identification of forged and falsified travel documents at the Moldova-Romania border” has been extended for another half a year, announced Monika Weber, the project's coordinator, Info-Prim Neo reports. The €680,000 project started in April 2009, providing support to the Moldovan Border Guard Service, and the ministries of Interiors, Information and Communication Technology, and Foreign Affairs. The project activities have involved training of the relevant staff and exchange of information between the relevant authorities in identifying forged travel documents and the methods used by the forgers. They also included study visits to Hungary, Austria, Poland and Holland. In addition, the staff responsible for border security received computers, and direct and distance training. “I can say that your country is ready to cooperate at national and international levels in the areas of migration and border security”, stated Monika Weber. Dirk Lorenz, Political Officer of the EU Delegation to Moldova, said that the project was a concrete step made by Moldova towards meeting standards for the security of travel documents, which are stipulated in the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization negotiated by Moldova at the beginning of January. Dirk Lorenz also announced that the EU was intending to start another project soon, valued at €2 million, which would involve purchases of equipment for the production of biometric passports and training courses on who to use it. The project “Strengthening capacities and cooperation in the identification of forged and falsified travel documents at the Moldova-Romania border” is implemented by the International Center for Migration Policy Development together with other nine EU partners.