Within the MPF’s border management portfolio, a significant milestone was achieved on February 13, 2024, as another project reached its successful conclusion. The final event of the “Enhancing capacities of Border Police forces to detect forged identity and travel documents for preventing and combating irregular migration and trafficking in human beings” project took place in Chisinau, at the premises of the General Inspectorate for Border Police.

Representatives from various entities participated in the event, including officials from the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Border Police of the Republic of Moldova, alongside counterparts from the State Border Guard Service of the Republic of Lithuania, the EU delegation in Moldova, and representatives of the ICMPD. 

During the introductory remarks, Mr. Rustamas LIUBAJEVAS, Commander of the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of Interior of Lithuania, underscored the project's significance in strengthening Lithuanian-Moldovan bilateral cooperation. He emphasized the commitment demonstrated by the EU and the Member States involved as well as the excellent cooperation with their Moldovan peers. Corina MOCANU BONNIN, the representative for Moldova within EU delegation, highlighted the project as another stride in the enduring collaboration between EU Member States and Moldova. She emphasized the importance of not only enhancing the capacity of the Moldovan border police but also fostering connections and sharing best practices among stakeholders, particularly in light of Moldova’s new status as an EU candidate country.

The event served as a platform for both Lithuanian and Moldovan colleagues to present key outcomes of the project’s implementation. These include specialized training, study visits, exchange of best practices, and the provision of expert equipment. A significant achievement was the development and distribution of the Guidelines on the examination of documents, tailored for specialists from the Moldovan Border Police.

A highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the Mobile Forensic Laboratory, a pivotal asset in enhancing document expertise capabilities, which in turn significantly strengthens state border control activities and cross-border security.

Both the coordinator and beneficiaries expressed their great satisfaction with the achieved results and the full completion of the project activities. The equipment provided empowers Moldovan beneficiaries to conduct Level 3 document control, representing a highly advanced capability in border management.

The successful conclusion of this project signifies not only the tangible outcomes achieved but also the strengthening of partnerships and cooperation in addressing challenges related to irregular migration and human trafficking. As border management continues to evolve, such collaborative efforts pave the way for more effective and efficient strategies in safeguarding borders and ensuring security.

 All parties committed to exploring further areas for cooperation.