EUAM Ukraine Facilitates Parliamentary Visit to Vinnytsia Region to Advance Border Management Reforms
July 04, 2025
As part of its ongoing support for Ukraine’s EU integration efforts, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM Ukraine) co-organised and participated in a working visit to Vinnytsia from 30 June to 1 July. The visit, initiated by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, aimed to assess the state of border management infrastructure and parliamentary oversight at Ukraine’s border with Moldova.
The delegation, comprising members of the Ukrainian Parliament, representatives of the Government, local authorities, and international partners, visited the border crossing points (BCPs) in Mohyliv-Podilskyi and Bronnytsia, and the site of a cross-border bridge under construction near Yampil. These site visits provided a clearer picture of the current challenges and opportunities in integrated border management (IBM).
This field visit forms part of EUAM Ukraine’s broader support to IBM reform in Ukraine. Over the years, the Mission has provided strategic advice, capacity building, and equipment donations to strengthen the operational capabilities of Ukraine’s border management agencies. EUAM Ukraine has also contributed to the development of the new IBM Strategy and is actively involved in supporting the upcoming Action Plan for its implementation.
“The Verkhovna Rada Committee’s work is complex yet crucial. It encompasses frontline operations and strategic implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy. The EU remains committed to supporting Ukrainian authorities, recognizing that robust parliamentary oversight of the IBM Strategy is essential,” said Maura O’Sullivan, Deputy Head of EUAM Ukraine, during the off-site committee meeting.
During discussions, participants noted that traffic across the Ukrainian-Moldovan border has increased significantly in recent years. Yet, many BCPs remain underdeveloped, relying on outdated infrastructure and temporary facilities. The need for automated systems and modern scanning equipment was highlighted as key to enhancing efficiency and transparency at the border.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee, stressed the importance of modernising both infrastructure and procedures: “We must significantly enhance the quality of infrastructure and upgrade border procedures. Specialized equipment like truck scanners is essential – not only for convenience but for transparency in operations.”
The visit also addressed joint border control initiatives with Moldova and underscored the importance of inter-agency and cross-border cooperation. The presence of international stakeholders – including EUBAM, EUDEL, IOM, and JASPERS – reflected the collective support for Ukraine’s IBM reform.
As the visit concluded, EUAM Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside Ukrainian partners to support the implementation of the IBM Strategy. Strengthening parliamentary oversight, enhancing institutional capacity, and modernising infrastructure will be vital to ensuring Ukraine’s borders meet EU standards and contribute to the country’s overall EU accession path.
