IOM Moldova, and the Border Guard Service of the Republic of Moldova have completed the 2 year project Capacity Building and Technical Cooperation for Moldovan Border Guards and Border Officials.

The 1.1 mil. project was funded by the European Union TACIS Programme, and co-funded and implemented by IOM in close collaboration with the project beneficiary - Moldovan Border Guard Service.

The project was based on the Moldovan Government commitment to reform the Border Guard Service and to improve the border guard management according to the European standards and, having as the main objective strengthening of border management capacities of the Border Guard Service and its personnel, by enhancing physical facilities of the Border Guard Training Centre, some of the border crossing points and segments of the green border as well as professional capacities of the border service.
 
Aiming to adapt the present structure and functioning to EU standards, the best practice European expertise was used for the formulation of recommendations and subsequent specific training courses for about 150 Moldovan BG officers. For these activities IOM invited experts from Belarus, UK, Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia and Hungary. Particular attention was paid to the legislative and training needs in view of the transformation of the BG service into a modern civilian service. The experts also contributed to compiling basic Moldovan and European legislative and normative acts on Border control and Border Surveillance, which were made into the first ever pilot Hand Book for everyday for the Moldovan BG staff. 

These trainings, along with the trainings on computer literacy and English language, enhanced the Capacity of Moldovan border guards to apply modern equipment and techniques in Border control and Border surveillance; enhanced the internal service organization at the border check points and border stations and interaction among border guards and other state services in border control and surveillance; improved The knowledge of the Border Guard methods of converting to a European standard control system and the framework of green border management of selected Schengen and neighbouring countries.

Given the need for cross-border exchange of experience in this modernization process, study tours were organized to EU member states, as well as to neighbouring EU accession countries such as Bulgaria and Romania for 45 BG and migration officials. The visits contributed significantly to a better understanding of different European border surveillance and control models. They also served as networking and exchange visits and substantially helped to foster and improve relations and future cooperation with relevant border guard services. 

Discussing the project results In addition to this sets of contemporary equipment for increasing the operational efficiency of the border control and green border surveillance were provided, specifically: a powerful server for the Border Guard Service Headquarters data base; passport readers, termovisors, night vision equipment, binoculars, radio stations (mobile and stationary), surveillance cameras etc. Besides, canopies and border control booths were installed for upgrading the infrastructure at several border check points in order to make the area of border crossing points operational notwithstanding bad weather conditions. 
 
On the 22nd of December an opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Border Guard Training Centre was held in Ungheni, a town near the Romanian border, where the main facilities of the newly created Training Centre have been renovated and equipped with furniture, computers and relevant training material. 
 
The opening was honoured with the presence of the responsible EC manager from Kiev, the UK Ambassador to Moldova, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and representatives of local public authorities.

The project constitutes an important starting point in IOM collaboration with the European Union, in the framework of the EU programme for supporting the Moldovan Government in its endeavour to reform the Border Guard and Migration Management systems according to EU standards and regulations in line with the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU-Moldova Action Plan. In a next step IOM Moldova will assist the Government to adhere to EU standards in the treatment of irregular migrants who have been detained and support the voluntary return of the same.