Opening Ukraine’s newest gate to the EU
February 10, 2023
Today, 10 February, the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM) attended the inauguration of the new Ukrainian-Romanian border crossing point ‘Diakivtsi – Racovat’.
During the opening ceremony, public officials of both counties recognised the efforts of the Mission. “On our side, we congratulate both nations and welcome the additional capacity this new crossing offers their travellers and businesses,” underlined EUAM’s Strategic Customs Adviser Dorel Fronea after the ceremony. The new border crossing point is the second recent Ukrainian gate to Romania after the ‘Krasnoyilsk – Vicovu de Sus’ crossing was inaugurated in November 2022. In both cases, EUAM provided strategic advice to the Ukrainian authorities on Integrated Border Management.
The idea is to facilitate bilateral trade
The development of new transport corridors is coordinated by the Ukrainian-Romanian Customs and Infrastructure Working Group, initiated by EUAM. The overarching idea is to facilitate bilateral trade under the ‘Solidarity Lanes’ initiative of the European Commission by establishing alternative logistics routes after the Russian military aggression against Ukraine strangled maritime routes, whilst maintaining border security as a priority.
Supporting Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership
During regular Working Group meetings, high-level officials from both countries and EUAM representatives exchange information, identify bottlenecks, possible improvements, discuss technical challenges, and coordinate synchronised traffic across the Ukrainian-Romanian border. “The results of such technical consultations and on-site assessments are transformed into a roadmap or action plan for approval by the governments of both countries. In the light of Ukraine’s candidate status for EU membership, it is vital to implement the best European Union customs/border practices, develop border infrastructure, and increase the professional capacities of customs officers and border guards,” explained Dorel Fronea.
Reduced waiting times and eased pressure
The latest project in which Working Group members engage is another border crossing point, ‘Bila Krynytsia – Climauti’, presented by Ukrainian customs in January 2023 to the Romanian authorities with the support of EUAM. Meanwhile, according to the Ukrainian State Customs Service, border infrastructure and trade facilitation improvements have already significantly reduced waiting times and eased the pressure on the major Ukrainian-Romanian regional gateway for cargo ‘Porubne – Siret’.
