The EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), whose mandate expires on December 1, 2015, could be extended. The subject was discussed in a meeting of the Consultative Council of the EUBAM held in Chisinau. The representatives of Moldova and Ukraine agreed to extend the mandate for two years, IPN reports.
“A Government meeting is now held in Kiev. The decision on the prolongation of the mandate and on the signing of the relevant agreement between the European Commission, Ukraine and Moldova is to be taken there,” said Volodimir Bachinski, deputy head of the EU Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Consultative Council of the EUBAM convened in Chisinau to approve the Mission’s plan of action for the immediate period in concert with representatives of the foreign affairs ministries, border and law enforcement agencies of Moldova and Ukraine.
“During ten years of the foundation of the EUBAM, the Mission has helped Moldova and Ukraine to eliminate all the negative tendencies and phenomena in the region, especially as regards illicit trafficking in goods and appropriation of state funds,” said the EU Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Tombinski.
EU Ambassador to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said that the meeting was very fruitful. “We have yet a lot to do. As regards building of confidence for political issues, we must find a sustainable solution to unite the two sides of the Nistru. In this respect, we will work together with our partners from Ukraine and Moldova,” he stated.
According to deputy minister of foreign affairs of Moldova Daniela Cujba, the EUBAM made an important contribution to building confidence between the two sides of the Nistru River and to identifying a solution to the Transnistrian issue. “I want to note the Mission’s contribution to facilitating trade with the EU, to the activity of the customs service and to the initiatives that we implemented together with Ukraine and that we intend to extend in connection with Moldova’s participation in the Eastern Partnership,” she stated.
Launched in 2015, EUBAM is an advisory, technical body mandated to enhance the border-management capacities of its partners – the border guard and customs authorities and other law enforcement and State agencies of Moldova and Ukraine.
