Moldova and Ukraine signed a protocol on the organization of joint control at the railway checkpoint "Serpnevo-1-Basarabeasca" on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
This checkpoint is located on the section of the Berezino-Basarabeasca railway restored in 2022, and the protocol on organizing joint control was signed on March 22 by the Customs Service and the Border Police of Moldova with the State Border Service and the State Tax Service of Ukraine. Director of the Customs Service Igor Talmazan stressed that for the first time Moldova and Ukraine are signing a protocol on the organization of joint control at the railway checkpoint, which marks an important step in the development of cooperation between the customs and border authorities of the two states. In turn, the head of the Moldovan Border Police, Rosian Vasiloi, noted that joint control means a modern European approach to common border security, with an emphasis on streamlining the border crossing process and accelerating, interconnecting and deepening economic processes. It was emphasized that the launch of joint control on the railway is aimed at strengthening cooperation on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, which will help diversify the ways of transporting goods with Ukraine, ensure Moldova's access to the main regional routes for the transportation of various types of fuel, as well as grain exports from Ukraine. The contribution to the development of a bilateral dialogue on the security of the common border, public order, the economic well-being of both states and the fight against organized cross-border crime will also be important and weighty. It should be noted that joint control activities are part of the EU initiative - Paths of Solidarity, the purpose of which is to ensure the movement of goods to / from Ukraine. The start date for joint control will be set by mutual agreement by the administration of the checkpoint. The signed protocol is a tool for putting into practice the provisions of the agreement between the governments of Moldova and Ukraine on the joint control of persons, vehicles, goods and objects at common checkpoints of the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border dated October 6, 2017. Currently, joint control on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border is being carried out at 6 automobile checkpoints, in one of which it was temporarily suspended, on the Transnistrian section - Pervomaisk-Сuciurgan. The railway service on the Berezino-Basarabeasca section, which had been abandoned for many years, was restored back in the summer of 2022, but it has not yet been possible to launch a regular railway service there due to the lack of the necessary checkpoint, the opening of which has been postponed several times. Earlier it was reported that thanks to the commissioning of the Berezino-Basarabeasca section, Moldova will be able to export and import goods by rail through the Danube port of Izmail in Ukraine, bypassing the Transnistrian region. For Ukraine, this checkpoint is important primarily for the transportation of grain.//22.03.2023 — InfoMarket.
