| 14 October 2008, Chisinau The Advisory Board Meeting of the EUBAM, chaired by the Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Moldova Cesare de Montis, took place on 14 October in Chisinau. The Board endorsed the EUBAM Action Plan for 2009, which builds on the results of the previous work. Special attention is given to sustainability of achieved results, training and promotion of institutional change to meet European standards in border management. In the coming year the Mission together with the partner services will cooperate on eight areas of work:
1. Effectiveness of border guard and customs control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border.
2. Effectiveness of management and training systems; technical knowledge; as well as infrastructure and equipment.
3. Enforcement measures through prevention and investigation of cross-border crime.
4. Increased customs revenue through evaluating aspects of customs clearance and through assisting the national trade policies of Moldova and Ukraine.
5. Anti-corruption efforts.
6. Integrated border management on the basis of three pillars: intra-agency cooperation, inter-agency cooperation and international cooperation.
7. Contribution to the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict of the Republic of Moldova.
8. Public information to the citizens and users of border services.
Further, the Advisory Board considered the EUBAM Activity Report for June-September 2008 and highlighted the excellent cooperation between the Mission and the partner services. In particular, the Advisory Board underlined following positive developments:
- Reform steps taken by the partner services leading closer towards European standards.
- Inter-agency and international cooperation, especially during the 5th Joint Border Control Operation FOCUS 2.
- Work of EUBAM experts in field of combating organised crime as well as advice offered to senior management.
- Various actions taken by EUBAM and the partner services to implement Joint Declaration between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and to strengthen risk analysis and public information.
Members of the Advisory Board welcomed the review on implementation of the EUBAM recommendations from May 2006. The Board encouraged Moldovan and Ukrainian Border Guards and Customs Services to continue implementing the recommendations, especially in fighting corruption, improving risk analysis and service culture. Next review of the EUBAM recommendations will be conducted in November 2009.
In addition, the Mission reported on the 5th Joint Border Control Operation FOCUS 2, which was implemented by the Moldovan and Ukrainian services in cooperation with EUBAM. During the operation Moldovan and Ukrainian services jointly detected 293 cases of illegal smuggling of goods at border crossing points and along the green border. The total value of goods seized during the operation amounted to more than EUR 1 million. This was possible thanks to effective exchange of information and cooperation at the national and international level.
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The Advisory Board is composed of the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Moldovan and Ukrainian Customs and Border Guard services, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the EU Special Representative for Moldova, the EU Presidency, as well as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Following institutions have the observer status: Ministries of Internal Affairs of both countries; Ministries of Justice of both countries, Information and Security Service of Moldova, Security Service of Ukraine, General Prosecutors Offices of both countries, and International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
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