On April 24, 2018 at the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine the sixth Steering Committee Meeting of the Twinning Project “Support to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the further Development of Integrated Border Management Approaches for Travel Document Verification and Stolen Motor Vehicles Detection” took place.

The project is implemented by the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the Federal Police Service of Germany, the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Border Guard Service of Poland.

The goal of the project is strengthening the capacity of the State Border Guard Service in illegal migration prevention and corruption counteraction, to facilitate the effective implementation of the integrated border management system in accordance with the best EU standards and practices.

Deputy Director of the International Legal Directorate – Head of the International Cooperation and European Integration Department Oleksandr PANCHENKO in his welcoming speech presented the main results of the project implementation, pointing out that one of the significant results of the joint work is establishment of a high-level interdepartmental working group on the issues of coordinating integrated border management as a consultative-advisory body of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In addition, a Schengen assessment of Ukrainian border crossing points and separate border units was evaluated that would determine the efficiency of procedures for detecting forged documents and stolen motor vehicles, educational trainings and workshops aimed at experience exchange on the use of latest technical devices of border control were conducted jointly with the experts from Germany, Lithuania and Poland, familiarization with up-to-date equipment for detecting forged documents used by the European border guard services; as well as the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On Urgent Measures to Neutralize Threats to National Security in the Field of Migration Policy" was approved on1 March 2018 No 72/2018 etc.  

During the event, MS Project Leader Thomas OSTERROTH presented practical results of the Twinning project realization during the reporting period, particularly a number of activities was held aimed at the increasing competencies and capacity building as well as further developing the State Border Guard Service for more effective detection of stolen motor vehicles, increasing the levels of information-sharing, improving the border control system, including IT systems, as well as bringing legislation and procedures in line with the EU standards, Concept on stolen vehicles detection system enhancement was elaborated that promote implementation of the European integration course of Ukraine, strengthening the role of the State Border Guard Service in integrated border management issues.

The speeches were also delivered by the Head of Operations Section 1 "Good Governance and Democratisation” Martin KLAUCKE and Advisor to the Department on Justice and Administrative Organizational Work of the Support Group for Ukraine Frank PAUL who underlined the strategic importance of the project and expressed the hope that its effective implementation will positively influence the acceleration of the integration process of the State Border Service into a European law-enforcement field and increase its ability to counter current threats at the state border.

The Deputy Head of the Projects Management Unit of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union Inna BIELOBRATOVA introduced the main comments of the Twinning Programme Administration Office to the project quarterly report, noting the professionalism of the key actors and effective, coordinated cooperation among the partners of the project that ensures timely achievement of its mandatory results.

RTA Daniel FARRELL expressed his gratitude to the project partners and presented plans for the next reporting period.

At the same time, a financial report was presented, recommendations were discussed on the implementation and improvement of the activities of the border authority and integrated border management in general.

The experts of the Twinning project for the State Border Guard Service of the EU Member States, Representation of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, Administration of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and others took part in the event.

For reference:

according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine “On Approval of the Procedure for Initiation, Preparation and Implementation of the Twinning Projects” as of 11 October, 2016 No 700 the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service coordinates the implementation of the institution building instrument of the European Union Twinning in Ukraine. Furthermore, in accordance with relevant legal acts the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the coordinator of institution building instrument TAIEX implementation in Ukraine. In order to provide effective coordination of Twinning and TAIEX the Twinning Program Administration Office in Ukraine was established, its functions are performed by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union.

The project “Support to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the further Development of Integrated Border Management Approaches for Travel Document Verification and Stolen Motor Vehicles Detection” covers the following 3 components:

• Component 1 - assistance in monitoring and evaluating the new Integrated Border Management Strategy and implementation of the Activity Plan;
• Component 2 - improvement of the Border Control System, including the IT system, in accordance with EU standards and practices.
• Component 3 - approximation of national legislation and practice in the field of detection of stolen cars to EU standards.