Odessa, 18/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - Following extension of its mandate till November 2009, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine has entered its fifth phase. Since 2005, the mission has continued to provide assistance to customs services and to the Moldovan and Ukrainian border guards operating in a highly politicised context given the frozen conflict in the self-proclaimed region of Transnistria (the official denomination being the Transnistria region of the Moldova Republic). Through a concern for neutrality (the EU recognises the territorial integrity of Moldova), EUBAM does not have a mandate to deal with the authorities of Tiraspol, in Transnistria, but actively cooperates with Moldovan and Ukrainian customs officers and border guards to make the common border between Ukraine and Moldova more secure and more sealed (1 220 km, of which 411 km of border between Ukraine and Transnistria). Transnistria is considered a “black hole” and is known as a stronghold for illegal trafficking. The first months of 2008 have been fruitful with two major hard drug seizures in the Ukrainian port of Odessa. During a visit organised in cooperation with the Kangaroo Group at the European Parliament, journalists were able to assess the daily work of EUBAM mission members.
Launched in 2005 at a joint request from Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities, the mission mainly aims to improve the border and customs management of the two countries, strengthen the capacity of these services to combat organised and border crime, and help resolve the Transnistrian conflict. The mission's commander, Hungarian General Ferenc Banfi, is also senior political advisor to the EU special representative in the region.
The mission's mandate ensures that its 190 current members operate at every level from construction of infrastructure at the border to public relations training of customs agents. During this year, the mission is due to focus on: - strengthened inspection capacity at the official crossing points between Moldova and Ukraine; - and continued establishment of the control system based on risk analysis. In the port of Odessa (the largest port of Ukraine used for 75% of the country's maritime transport), where EUBAM has set up one of its six regional offices, the aim is to replace the former inspection system, which ensured controls were carried out on all cargo ships entering the port, by a system targeting high-risk vessels. Such a method has already proven effective. In 2006, for the first time in 4 years, Ukrainian customs officers intercepted 6 large consignments of hard drugs (cocaine and heroine). European assistance also serves to launch research, and teach customs agents to recognise false documents (visas, passports and customs certificates). The mission must also help to set in place all instruments that ensure integrated border management, allowing all services concerned to be coordinated. This is useful for combating tax fraud.
The other priorities of the mission this year include the fight against corruption and restoring confidence between Moldovan and Ukrainian services, as well as heightening the awareness of the public and customs agents to the recurring problems of illegal goods and cigarettes smuggling. A training course launched early this year consists of teaching Ukrainian and Moldovan customs services the techniques of public relations. Also, the mission monitors respect of the joint statement (of December 2005) between Moldova and Ukraine which allows access to the Ukrainian market for Transnistrian entrepreneurs. The declaration stipulates that Ukraine will receive businessmen from Transnistria on condition that they have Moldovan tax stamps. The statement, which was long boycotted by Transnistrian businesses, began to produce results in 2006. Currently, 400 Transnistrian businesses belong to the new regime.
Transnistria. After the region's breakaway tendencies, Moldovan inspectors were no longer authorised to control the border with Ukraine. The result of this was that over 400 km of common border was controlled only by Ukrainian customs officers. With several border crossing points escaping any control whatsoever, the border became a favourite among illegal traffickers - incurring major losses for the Ukrainian and Moldovan budgets. In autumn 2006, for example, joint action allowed the discovery of very large quantities of meat imported from Ukraine towards Transnistria. The meat was then illegally carried to Ukraine (in six months, customs agents detected over 40,000 tonnes of chicken meat sold in Transnistria, equivalent to 60-90 kg of chicken per person per day in the region). Profits generated by this fraudulent operation represent the equivalent of €750 per day for each tonne of meat smuggled into the country, at a loss of over €40 million for the Ukrainian budget. The mission has not revealed any illegal arms trafficking except for some munitions and hunting weapons (616 weapons in total in 2006).
EUBAM currently carries out border controls on more than 1220 km of common borders. The mission consists of a 190 man team from 22 EU member states (all, except Spain, Malta, Luxembourg, Ireland and Sweden) and is divided into 6 campaign offices: in Otaci at the border between Moldova and Ukraine, in Chisinau (the capital of Moldova), in the port of Odessa at Odessa, in Basarabeasca in Moldavia, and in Kuchuran and Kotovs. To maintain its neutrality, the mission does not have political contact with the Transnistria regional authorities. The mission budget is €12.2 million for this year, plus €3.3 million from the European Commission as part of the BOMMOLUK programme (Improvement of Border Controls at the Moldova-Ukraine border) and technical aid (purchase of equipment and software) for Ukrainian and Moldavian customs. (ABy)