“The Ukrainian-Polish border should become an internal border of the EU” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze

On May 5-6, the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union and the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine made a joint visit to the Volyn and Lviv regions. The purpose of the visit was to assess the needs of the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing points in terms of increasing capacity, strengthening security, improving infrastructure, establishing closer interdepartmental coordination, as well as the prospects of international support for cross-border cooperation from the European Union and other international partners.

During the first day, the delegation visited the border crossing points Yagodyn in Volyn region and Ugryniv, Krakivets and Shehyni in Lviv region.

Members of the delegation examined the infrastructure and addressed problems related to veterinary and phytosanitary control. They were joined by representatives of ministries and departments, regional authorities, the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, EU projects dealing with issues of integrated border management, as well as the International Organization for Migration.

The next day, an on-site meeting of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU was held, where the results of the trip and improving the operation of Ukrainian-Polish border crossing points were discussed. It focused on developments in the implementation of the Strategy of integrated border management, support from the European Union and the possibility of joint control on the Ukrainian-Polish border.

“It is important that representatives of the central executive authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as our European partners participated in the meeting after the working trip to the checkpoints. Based on the results of the joint visit with the EUAM and the on-site meeting of the Committee in Lviv, we will prepare official recommendations for central and regional authorities to be implemented at the legislative, executive level and in close cooperation between the Ukrainian and Polish governments, as well as the European Union,” said the Chair of the Committee Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

She emphasised that the Ukrainian-Polish border should become an internal border of the EU: “Therefore we need to work out all the decisions regarding the development of the border infrastructure, considering the strategic goals. I am convinced that we should invest in mobile infrastructure, which after Ukraine's accession to the EU, will be transferred to the external border of the EU, which will be in the North and East of Ukraine, after the Russian occupiers will be expelled from the entire territory of Ukraine.” At the same time, she added that today, unfortunately, the government's Integrated Border Management Strategy does not consider important Schengen requirements. Also, an automated exchange of information between Ukrainian customs officers and border guards is not in place.

“The process of integrated border management is extremely important not only for regulating queues at borders and creating a comfortable and safe infrastructure. It should also solve the strategic task of connecting Ukraine with the transport corridors of Europe. Ukraine is a very important player in terms of its transit potential. Therefore, the focus in not only on borders, but also on global changes in transport connections in Europe”, the first deputy Chairman of the Committee, Vadym Halaichuk said.

Secretary of the Committee Valentyn Nalyvaichenko emphasised that the Ukrainian-Polish border is the border of allies. “That's why we have to work together with Poland and the European Union to make the border free, safe and comfortable for citizens” he said.

“The EUAM will continue to provide strategic advice and support to the Ukrainian government, the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine in the delivery of tasks related to the simplification of trade procedures and the acquisition of the status of a candidate for the EU accession. In this context, we discussed the importance of the implementation of the EU legal provisions into Ukrainian law, coordinated efforts to develop border crossing points and compliance of border and customs control procedures with EU standards. A good example of such interdepartmental and international cooperation and information exchange is the Ukrainian-Romanian-Moldovan customs working group initiated by the EUAM. In the future, we plan to invite to it representatives of Slovakia and Poland,” emphasised Jorg Einemann, Head of Integrated Border Management Unit at EUAM Ukraine.