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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), European Union, U.S. Government and the Government of Moldova today announced a new 1.1 million Euro project to overhaul management of Moldova's 2080 kilometre border, including training, equipment and infrastructure.
The multi-year project, part of IOM's "Better Border Initiative," will improve and strengthen management of the estimated 7 million border crossings annually, leading to stepped up prevention of illegal crossings and more efficient management of legal migration.
"Each year, millions of people cross Moldova's borders - both tourists and migrants - some crossing with irregular documents," said Marielle Sander Lindstrom, Chief of Mission, IOM, Moldova. "This project will help modernize border controls and procedures to speed the pace of those crossing the borders legally while combating irregular migration."
The initiative includes refurbishment and improvement of border guard training centres and border checkpoints and the purchasing of equipment. The project will also develop recommendations for legislative improvements, border guard trainings, expert visits, translation of key documents and study tours.
"The EU support to Integrated Border management in Moldova aims at establishing a global, efficient and effective management system, " said Ivan Borisavljevic, Head of the TACIS Branch Office, Delegation of the European Commission to RM. "It especially emphasizes close cooperation, coordination and exchange of information between relevant agencies with a jurisdiction in border management. The overall objective is to ensure open but controlled borders enabling the citizens to live in an area of safety and freedom".
"Moldova is part of Europe and due to its geographical position serves as a convenient corridor for migrants to pass from East to West," said Igor Colenov, head of the Border Guard Troops Department. "The process turned into an international problem and in this situation border guards must be more professional and have all the necessary equipment to face the problem."
The project, co-funded by the European Union and the United States, is part of the IOM and Moldovan Border Guards Department's "Better Border" Initiative. The U.S. Government contribution of 200,000 Euro will go towards upgrading border crossings with specialized equipment and computers.
"With Moldova becoming a new neighbour to the EU, this project will train the Border Guards according to Western standards - not only on special detection equipment, but also on migrants' rights and anti-trafficking," said Lindstrom.
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