“The security of our borders depends on this”, — Igor Klymenko about the launch of the Coordination Center for Integrated Border Management
Today, April 22, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Igor Klymenko together with the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishina opened the Coordination Center for Integrated Border Management. In accordance with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers for closer cooperation, the center was created on the basis of the Situation Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The opening of the Coordination Center was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Katarina Maternova, the representative of the international cooperation department of the Frontex Border and Coast Guard Agency Pavel Slivinsky, as well as representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Service, the National Guard Deputies, State Migration Service, People's Deputies and others.
“The idea of building such a center arose because of the challenges facing the country — they oblige us to work around the clock. The presence of all services at one point to exchange information and make a consolidated decision is exactly what prompted us to create this center. In order to collect and analyze all the necessary information, as well as to use common databases and software of EU countries, we have developed such a center,” said the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Igor Klymenko during the presentation of the center.
As you know, the creation of the Coordination Center for Integrated Border Management is one of the key criteria for Ukraine's accession to the European Union, which is stipulated in the Regulations of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU as a basic requirement for all EU member states.
Igor Klymenko stressed that the main task of the center is comprehensive coverage of the situational picture in the sphere of protection and protection of the state border in 24/7 mode.
“Today we are talking about a common border and sharing data with our European partners. This will allow us in this center to exchange information about the border, and about our citizens, as well as about any criminal manifestations,” the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine said.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishina stressed that the establishment of this center is one of the conditions on Ukraine's path to the EU, because joint border management will help prevent future challenges:
“Thank you to our border guards for their reliable rear and security in the face of a full-scale war. At present, we are really not only partners, but also future members of the EU, and the creation of the Coordination Centre for Integrated Border Management is one of the points of our strong cooperation.”
In turn, the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Katarina Maternova noted that the creation of this center is a big investment in ensuring that Ukraine will be safe in the future:
“Our meeting is an active interaction that you need to join the EU. We are really here to support you. And the creation of such a center in your country is very important, because it unites the EU, both from the side of people and from the side of the supply of goods. We need to protect our common borders. Remember that this step brings you closer to even greater interaction with EU countries.”
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
