The mandate of the European Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) has today been enhanced to allow the granting of executive powers to EUBAM, at the request of Moldova and/or Ukraine. This will enable EUBAM staff to directly participate in border control, and complement the border management teams of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). By doing so, the European Commission is making additional support available to Moldovan Border Guards.
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “The European Union stands with Ukraine, and we are stepping up our support to help Moldova address the situation at its borders. EUBAM and Frontex will work together to help Moldova efficiently manage arrivals at its borders with Ukraine while maintaining a high level of security”.
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, EUBAM has reoriented its actions to assist in managing the influx of refugees into Moldova, notably redeploying its staff to the border crossing points most under pressure.
The mission, with its new enhanced mandate, will complement the deployment of Frontex border management teams, and EUBAM and Frontex will closely cooperate in their tasks.
To help address the refugee inflows, scaled-up support for EUBAM worth €15 million will allow for the recruitment of additional staff, and provide equipment as well as training to newly-hired Moldovan border guards.
In addition, the EU has launched a new action worth €15 million to support effective and dignified first line processing and transit of affected Eastern Partnership citizens, as well as safe and dignified voluntary returns of vulnerable third country nationals to their countries of origin.
Further funds could be foreseen to increase direct support for border management on key border crossing points at the Moldova-Ukraine border.
Background
The European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) was launched in 2005.
The Mission works with Moldova and Ukraine to harmonise border control, customs and trade standards and procedures with those in EU Member States. It helps to improve cross-border cooperation between the border guard and customs agencies and other law enforcement bodies and to facilitate international cooperation. EUBAM activities also promote economic development and enhance regional security. The EU has funded EUBAM with €143 million since the start of its operation in 2005. As of May, EUBAM has around 20 operational staff and recruitment procedures are ongoing for up to a total of 40 staff, with a possibility to add further short-term staff if needed.
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Details
- Publication date
- 2 June 2022
- Author
- Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations