23 червня 2009
IOM and Polish Border Guard Partner to Foster Introduction of EU Standards in MOI and SBGS
IOM and Polish Border Guard Partner to Foster Introduction of EU Standards in MOI and SBGS
The Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine held a press conference on June 18, 2009, devoted to ongoing and future multi-actor, sustainable cooperation with the Straż Graniczna (Polish Border Guard). The event featured remarks from Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Border Guard Leszek Elas, IOM Chief of Mission in Ukraine Jeffrey Labovitz, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOI) of Ukraine’s Deputy Director of the State Department on Citizenship, Immigration and Registration of Persons Serhiy Radutnyy, and the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine’s Head of the International Cooperation and European Integration Department Anatoliy Zarytskiy.
The Polish Border Guard and Hungarian National Police have partnered with the IOM Mission in Ukraine since 2006 to assist the SBGS’ effort to transform itself by 2015 into a modern European Union (EU)/Schengen-compliant law enforcement service with border management responsibilities. Building on its positive relations with the Government of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard has begun to share expertise and lay the groundwork for expanded future collaboration with its Ukrainian counterpart, the MOI, on the introduction of EU-compliant human rights-based procedures and standards governing best practices for migrant accommodation to facilitate the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Readmission Agreement.
Mr. Elas underscored the Polish Border Guard’s leading role and willingness in providing assistance on EU/Schengen standards for law enforcement bodies and mulled over the new border guarding paradigm, “We are convinced that our experience and expertise are of interest not only for Ukraine, but for all countries seeking membership in the EU. The Polish Border Guard is pleased to transfer its knowledge to its partners and share relevant information. We no longer have any need for tanks… [The] Poland-Ukraine border must be guarded, and not defended. When we look across the border, we see friends, not enemies. The Poland-Ukraine border is a border of friendship.”
Mr. Elas continued by touching on two IOM-Polish Border Guard Twinning initiatives, an EU best practice, whereby the Polish Border Guard has seconded its personnel to work in Ukraine as EU long-term advisors to the SBGS and MOI, respectively, under IOM-implemented projects. Overall, approximately 90 Polish Border Guard and Hungarian Police experts have participated in several IOM joint technical assistance projects for the MOI and SBGS.
Mr. Radutnyy of the MOI highlighted the contribution of Polish Border Guard specialists in improving detention facility management and facilitating the introduction of a rights-based approach to the accommodation of irregular migrants, “MOI cooperation with the Polish Border Guard is real and tangible. Detained migrants in Ukraine live in adequate, EU-standard conditions thanks to the assistance of Polish Border Guard experts.”
Mr. Labovitz noted that the Polish Border Guard and Hungarian National Police have conducted more than 40 trainings in Ukraine for approximately 1,000 MOI and SBGS employees on best practices in migrant accommodation, human rights of migrants, readmission, assisted voluntary return (AVR), recruitment, career development and training of law enforcement personnel, and risk assessment and criminal analysis. Likewise, in excess of 235 MOI and SBGS personnel have participated in 35 networking/study visits to Poland and Hungary.
“Together we have already achieved significant results recognized by project beneficiaries and donors – we are successfully introducing EU standards for the administration of MOI migrant detention facilities and protection of migrants’ rights, in addition to enhancing border management and HR management in the SBGS. We intend to cooperate on four projects in the next two years, building on work already completed,” asserted Mr. Labovitz, who positively gauged the prospects of continuing longstanding collaborative efforts.
The IOM’s cooperation with the Polish Border Guard is made possible by the steadfast financial support of the European Union and the U.S. Department of State, as well as co-funding from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Italian Republic.
