Managements of Romanian, Moldovan, Ukrainian customs authorities hold trilateral meeting in Chisinau

The managements of the Romanian, Moldovan and Ukrainian customs authorities met on Wednesday in Chisinau to discuss topics such as boosting customs cooperation in the fields of trade facilitation and anti-fraud, and the implementation of joint measures to render inter-institutional interaction more efficient, the Romanian Customs Authority said in a release.Representatives of the three customs authorities and of the European Union High-Level Advisers Mission (EUHLAM) participated in the trilateral meeting, that also saw an exchange of information and best practices.Director of the Republic of Moldova's Customs Service Alexandru Iacub emphasized the importance of this trilateral format for strengthening regional customs cooperation, in line with best international practices and commitments to implement the European agenda in the customs field."Through constant dialogue and trilateral cooperation we ensure that joint measures effectively contribute to the achievement of our strategic goals of securing borders and facilitating international trade. Activity synchronization and inter-institutional cooperation, both on the anti-fraud component and for boosting the capacities of the customs personnel, by creating a joint training platform adjusted to the EU best practices are essential for reinforcing a body of personnel that are well prepared and capable to face the current challenges. We remain firmly committed to the values of integrity and professionalism, and the projects set forth today will help us achieve the proposed objectives for a modern and safe customs service," said Alexandru Iacub as cited in the release.President of the Romanian Customs Authority Marcel Mutescu mentioned that this cooperation represents the key to a future in which the borders of the three countries will be better protected and prepared for challenges."Today's trilateral meeting has once again proven the commitment undertaken by Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine for the improvement and rendering efficient cross-border customs operations. We want this form of cooperation to become a recurring one, a platform for dialogue and action, allowing the fast exchange of information and ensuring a safer trade flow for all parties involved. This active cooperation is the key to a future in which our borders will be better protected and prepared for the economic and security challenges in the region," said Marcel Mutescu.Deputy head of the Ukrainian State Customs Service, Vladyslav Suvorov, said that important projects are envisaged in order to ensure a regular flow at the crossing points, and that the organization of joint control, the automated exchange of information and the implementation of joint actions to combat violations of customs regulations will require mutual efforts for implementation."Our meeting today is a new step towards our joint customs future in the European Union," Suvorov pointed out.The sides also exchanged opinions on the current situation in the customs offices, the prospects for expanding coordinated control at the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and the joint control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, infrastructure modernization projects, as well as the improvement of the coordinated action mechanism in crisis situations.The initiatives discussed included the creation of a regional training platform for the three customs authorities, which would facilitate the provision of expertise in the enforcement of European customs legislation and the consolidation of professional capacities, the implementation of the New Computerized Transit System and of the AEO System, the use of AI, strengthening the climate of integrity and conducting common anti-fraud operations.Opportunities to intensify trilateral cooperation in the fields of canine assistance, mobile teams, risk analysis and law enforcement were also explored, as well as the organization of joint professional development events for the effective harmonization of national legislation with the EU law.The agenda of the meeting included visits to the Customs Laboratory, the Training Center, and the Anti-Fraud and Compliance Department of the Republic of Moldova's Customs Service, where the Romanian and Ukrainian officials were introduced to the activity and technical equipment of their Moldovan colleagues. The Training Center's team presented the training and improvement programs for customs officials, and the mobile teams made a demonstration with the special control technique provided.At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the Romanian, Moldovan and Ukrainian customs authorities reiterated their commitment to an active cross-border cooperation, by the coordination of joint actions and boosting their efforts to ensure border protection. Concrete actions were decided, including the signing, by the end of the current year, of the Operational Plan for the trilateral anti-fraud customs operation, the development of the regional capacity building platform, and the improvement of the joint intervention mechanism in crisis situations.