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Customs officers and border guards of Ukraine and Moldova have started joint control at the Kuchurgan-Pervomaysk checkpoint in Odesa region, the official opening ceremony was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
The Southern Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said members of the border and customs departments of Ukraine and Moldova met at the Kuchurgan checkpoint in April 2017. The parties agreed and signed an annex to the technological scheme for organizing joint control of individuals, vehicles, and goods. At the initial stage, the border guards of Moldova will be at the entrance to Moldova (the exit from Ukraine), while the customs officers will serve at the exit points from Moldova (the entrance to Ukraine).
It is noted that such a scheme will improve interaction between the two countries' border and customs agencies, boost bilateral trade and facilitate Ukrainian-Moldovan relations.
Once the first stage is over, the controlling parties of both countries will start work at full capacity. The capacity of the Kuchurgan-Pervomaysk checkpoint is about 12,000 people and 3,000 cars a day.
Read alsoUkraine to allow cargo transit to unrecognized Transnistria only upon agreement with MoldovaFollowing the opening ceremony, Poroshenko said that representatives of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) would participate in joint monitoring at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border. "Members of the mission are together with us today. They will take constant participation in the joint control, so that we will ensure security, transparency and comfort for those crossing the border, as well as efficient struggle against smuggling and corruption," the president said.
UNIAN memo. EUBAM was created in 2005. It promotes border control, customs and trade rules and practices that meet EU standards and serve the needs of its two partner countries.