| 30 October 2009 Delegations of 11 European border guard services gathered together to share their experience in preparation for EURO 2012 and coordinate efforts to improve border crossing procedures on the state border of Ukraine. These were the main topics of the International Conference on "Border Management and the European Football Championship 2012", which took place in Kyiv on 29-30 October.
The hosts of the conference, the head of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine, Major-General Dr Ferenc Banfi and the head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine General of the Army Mykola Lytvyn, noted that this forum has facilitated a detailed discussion of the important issues of simplifying border crossing procedures, improving security and obtaining specific recommendations from the border services of countries who have already hosted large scale football events. Ukrainian border guards had an opportunity to analyze the challenges faced by their Austrian and Swiss colleagues while organizing EURO 2008. The German delegation recounted their experience in border management while hosting the World Football Cup in 2006. The guests provided recommendations for the border guards of Ukraine and Poland in preparing services for accommodating thousands of football fans from all over Europe.
Ukrainian and Polish border guard services reported measures already taken in preparation for Euro 2012, and discussed additional steps which needed to be taken. Representatives of the border guard services from neighbouring countries Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation and Slovakia discussed what kind of support they can offer and what issues the border authorities might face in preparation for the tournament, and elaborated on mechanisms of coordinating efforts with the hosts of EURO 2012. The European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine handed out 10 000 copies of a Ukrainian-English Phrasebook for border guard services. The Phrasebook contains technical and everyday language phrases needed for passport control, vehicle checks, detentions, and first aid, as well as football and daily routine terminology. The Phrasebook will help Ukrainian border guard to communicate better with international travelers during EURO 2012. The content of the publication was developed by the Federal Police of Germany for use during the World Football Cup in 2006, translated and published by EUBAM, and adapted by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
The State border guard service of Ukraine already has experience in dealing with large numbers of travellers crossing the border. For instance, Ukrainian border guards have successfully managed transport flows during seasonal fruit harvests and while welcoming thousands of Hassidic pilgrims. The Ukrainian border guard service have received visitors to Eurovision 2005, various international forums, and the final game of the Junior Football Championship Euro 2009. It should be recalled that Ukraine has cancelled visa requirements for citizens of EU Member states, USA, Canada, Japan and several other countries. Continuing their policy of simplifying border crossing procedures, the Administration of the Border Guard service has initiated a Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers implementing the simplification of passport control procedures for foreign citizens.
In addition, joint control procedures have been introduced at particular border crossing points (BCP) on the Ukrainian-Moldovan and Ukrainian-Polish borders. This practice is to be extended as well to the borders of Ukraine with Slovakia, Hungary, and Rumania. Joint information points have been opened on the borders with Poland, Rumania and Russia. In 2008 State Border Guard Service of Ukraine introduced European standards in border management and atomized passport control and other control procedures. The service implemented distance border surveillance technology on particular sectors of the State Ukrainian border, and provided satellite connection between various detachments. Moreover, in 2008 the State Border Guard Service, in cooperation with the State Customs Service, improved the procedures of border guard and customs control for road BCPs. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine marked 2009 as a year for improving service culture, declaring high standards of legacy, respect for travellers, and speeding up border crossing procedures.
European innovations in the border guard service help not only to effectively cooperate with European law enforcement in combating organized crime, but also to improve the quality of services provided to travellers. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has initiated and submitted to the Parliament a new law concerning the border control, based on the Schengen Border Code, which regulates the work of European Union border services.
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