Issue8, October 2008
Moldovan-Ukrainian customs cooperation to simplify customs procedures
Senior management of the Ukrainian and Moldovan customs services met in Chisinau and discussed ways to improve border infrastructure and to simplify customs procedures in order to speed-up cargo traffic and transfer of transit. Amongst many, the Moldovan and Ukrainian customs officials discussed the exchange of information on goods and vehicles crossing the common border; and joint control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. Considering the importance of the bilateral cooperation, the parties expressed the readiness to continue their dialogue as well as to organise series of working meetings to discuss problems and share experiences.
Customs station in Tudora offers European conditions for the people and businesses
On 18 September the customs station in Tudora, situated at the border of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, re-opened after a substantial reconstruction. The station, operated by the Bendery Customs, is located at one of the busiest segments of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. In 1991 the customs station in Tudora was located in a trailer hosting 14 customs officers.
Last year the station was fundamentally reconstructed. In total MDL 42 million (approximately EUR 2 million) were allocated from the state budget to invest in the reconstruction. The upgraded station will increase the capacity of cargo and passenger flows; create sufficient working conditions for services conducting border controls; and provide good quality conditions and services to the people crossing the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border. The customs station has a contemporary infrastructure and all necessary equipment, able to handle 160-180 trucks and 2000 vehicles per day.
Three mobile scanners start working on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border
In September the border crossing point “Rava-Russkaya” received the first three mobile scanners Rapi-Scan Eagle M4507. After training of customs personnel and completion of administrative procedures, the mobile scanners will be also used in other border crossing points at the Ukrainian border. The provision of the mobile scanners was made available through the European Union technical assistance to the Customs Service of Ukraine.
In total, Ukraine will receive nine mobile X-ray scanners, at cost of EUR 1.5 million each,in the framework ofa project on delivering mobile inspection equipment and X-ray scanner systems to customs services of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. Such high-performance equipment is used for detection and prevention of illegal transfer of goods in large trucks.
Mobile X-ray systems will increase the capacities of customs officers in carrying out thorough non-destructive inspection of vehicles and containers and will, therefore, promote detection of customs fraud and illegal transfer of goods, as well as speed up customs processing procedures.
Cooperation between Ukrainian services facilitates counteraction of illegal activities
Since beginning of 2008, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine together with Security Service, the Ministry of Interior and the State Customs Service carried out over 170 joint operations to counteract human trafficking and organised transfer of people across the state border; and to fight smuggling of drugs, weapons, ammunitions, and goods. As a result, numerous seizures have been made including almost 20 units of arms; 690 pieces of ammunition; 1 grenade and 300 g of powder; more than 19 kg of drugs; and smuggled goods amounting to approximately UAH 9 million. The results of the current year were summed up on 7 October at the Southern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine during the extended interagency conference of law enforcement agencies. Participants of the meeting -- representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Security Service, the Ministry of Interior and the State Customs Service -- discussed the results of cooperation in counteracting illegal activities in Southern Region, including at the border. Participants committed to further reinforce measures in protecting economic stability of the country and carrying out permanent exchange of information.
Attention! Changes at the border
According to the needs of the State Customs Service of Ukraine the date for closing-down Kuchurhan Customs and creation of Dniester Customs will be postponed. As reported previously, the reorganisation was planned to take place in 1 October 2008. However, the aforementioned changes will be implemented from 22 October 2008.
We would like to inform economic agents, business entities and citizens who are crossing the Moldovan-Ukrainian border in the area of Kuchurhan Customs that from 22 October the goods will be cleared by officers of the newly-created Dniester Customs. From 22 October the customs posts “Razdelna”, “Starokazache” and “Gradenitsy” will also start operating as parts of Dniester Customs, which is covering Bilhorod-Dnistrivskiy, Razdelnyanskyi, Belyaevskiy districts of Odesa region (except Teplodar and railway station Odesa-Liski).
Joint teams of EUBAM, Moldovan and Ukrainian border guard and customs services discuss border security with local communities
In September EUBAM experts jointly with colleagues from Moldova and Ukraine resumed school visits and information activities in villages on the border. These meeting help partner services and EUBAM to explain the importance of secure and orderly borders. Furthermore, people at the border line learn how to cooperate with the services to prevent illegal activities.
In the area of Otaci border crossing point EUBAM expert together with the local border guard and customs officers organise a road show. They visited Ocnita village with the service cars and information materials. Regular people gathered around to know more about border issues and to talk with the visitors. Similar meeting with local people are planned in several other villages as well as schools in the region.
EUBAM Field Offices in Kotovsk and Kuchurhan started presentations in a number of local schools to tell the pupils about importance of rule of law at the border, possibilities for future career in the services, the Mission activities in the region and the European Union.
Press officers of border guard and customs services study public communication experience of Finnish colleagues
From 14-18 September 12 press officers from the Moldovan and Ukrainian border guard and customs services visited their Finnish colleagues to exchange experience in communication strategies, public information and relations with media. The program of the study visit included meetings and presentations in the headquarters of the Finnish border guard and customs services. In addition, the group visited the largest border crossing point with Russian Federation in Vaalimaa to see public communication in practice and to meet with Finnish border guard and customs officers.
Insights from Finland will be used by the Moldovan and Ukrainian services in future cooperation with EUBAM. In particular, services and EUBAM are already working on developing a booklet on rules for crossing the border with children. Next year, the partner services and EUBAM will create new information signs at five border crossing points on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border.