Due to the performance of the border guards, along with other colleagues from the national security bodies, it was possible to put Moldova on the map of security-producing countries. Moldova is now recognized as a guarantor of state of security and stability in the South-East region of Europe, Minister of Internal Affairs Adrian Efros stated at the beginning of the international forum “Border Security in the Context of New Regional Realities”, which was staged to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the Border Police.
According to Adrian Efros, due to the Moldovan Border Police’s performance, the European chancelleries are discussing the expansion of the European security area, which would include the Republic of Moldova, and the European forums are also negotiating the ensuring of a “European security belt” along the eastern border of Moldova, so that the European protection area will also include Moldova until its integration into the EU. “For those in the security system, it means access to data and information of the entire European Union, to immediate response mechanisms, advanced technologies and increased interoperability within the European security ecosystem,” said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Attending the event, President Maia Sandu noted that in 2023 alone, there were recorded over 19 million border crossings of the country, which has a population of less than 3 million - an average of over 52,000 crossing per day and almost 5 million means of transport with only 3,000 employees and a better time average than in many countries in the region. In connection with the diaspora’s return home in summer, the employees of the Border Police will have a heavier workload in the coming months, but they will yet welcome all those who come home “in an exemplary way, with a smile on their face and with politeness.”
“The mission to protect the state border, to defend our national security belongs not only to the institutions, but also to each of us. It is important that we all respect the rules regarding border crossing and show understanding if, at certain times, we have to wait a little longer and we should smile at them, in turn, when we meet those who, regardless of the time, day or weather outside, take care of our safety at the border,” noted Maia Sandu.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that the employees of the Border Police have to protect 1,200 km of border with an active war zone. Equally important is the country’s path to the EU and this means that the Republic of Moldova must assume increased responsibility for protecting the EU border. If Romania enters the Schengen area by land, the requirements towards Border Police employees will increase.
Lilian Carp, chairman of the parliamentary commission on security and public order, noted that Moldova is in the front line of EU’s security. In the conditions of war, Moldova must ensure security on this side of the EU, ensure the fight against illegal trafficking in goods, human beings, weapons because things will continue to expand. If Moldova proves that the borders are well closed, it will certainly have an additional chance to become part of the big European family.
Border Police chief Ruslan Galușca said that state security starts from border security and state security is an indispensable element of national security. Without rigorous control over one’s own borders, the fight against cross-border crime is impossible and the prosperity of society can be therefore compromised.
The border institution was founded on June 10, 1992. Over time, it bore the names Border Guard Troops, Department of Border Guard Troops, Border Guard Service, Border Police Department, up to the General Border Police Inspectorate today.
