| 30 October 2008 
The Head of EUBAM, Ferenc Banfi met with the Director of Europol, Max-Peter Ratzel on 30 October in Odesa. The purpose of the meeting was to present EUBAM’s cooperation with Moldovan and Ukrainian partner services and to discuss possible cooperation between Europol and EUBAM.
EUBAM and Europol representatives explored cooperation in such areas as capacity building of Moldovan and Ukrainian partner services in identifying and investigating organised cross-border crime.
“This was a fruitful meeting which enables us to develop common understanding, mutual trust and seek complementarity in order to counteract international organised crime, ” told Mr Ratzel.
“EUBAM has helped the partner services to establish good working relations with a number of European agencies and organisations including FRONTEX, OLAF, and TAXUD,” said Mr Banfi during the meeting. “Similarly, Moldova and Ukraine as well as the EU Member States would benefit from a closer EUBAM-Europol cooperation on fighting and preventing organised crime,” he added.
European Police Office (Europol) is the European Law Enforcement Organisation which aims at improving the effectiveness and co-operation of the competent authorities in the Member States in preventing and combating terrorism, unlawful drug trafficking and other serious forms of international organised crime.
European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) contributes to the delivery of good quality border and customs services to the citizens and companies of Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union. Together with border guard and customs services of Moldova and Ukraine the Mission facilitates people-to-people contacts, legitimate trade and security. The Mission’s funding comes from the European Commission. Administrative and logistical support is provided by the United Nations Development Programme.
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