The implementation of the best practices of integrated border management applied in the European Union continues to be implemented in Ukraine.

In particular, yesterday the Administration of the State Border Guard Service hosted a meeting of the Virtual Contact Analytical Center with the participation of a high-level EU advisory group on Integrated Border Management (IBM) and the Ukrainian stakeholders.

At the beginning of the event, First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service Vasyl Servatiuk thanked the European Commission for the consistent and unwavering support of border management in Ukraine and an important decision to appoint a high-level EU advisory group on Integrated Border Management.

"In December 2018, the EU set up a group of high-level advisers to provide recommendations for the interagency working group on coordinating integrated border management, to help develop the Strategy and Plan for its implementation and the introduction of European IBM practices in Ukraine", he said.

The First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service stressed that "the new Integrated Border Management Strategy will enable for effective coordination of all the involved state mechanisms."

Vasyl Sertaviuk also informed European colleagues and participants of the meeting about the establishment by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of an Interagency Working Group on Coordination of Integrated Border Management. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze was appointed a chairman, while it comprised the leadership of the State Border Guard Service, the State Fiscal Service, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance, the State Migration Service and others.

During the meeting, the participants considered the organization of the development of the Integrated Border Management Strategy and discussed the state of implementation of the Action Plan on the implementation of the Integrated Border Management Concept in 2018 and proposals for further interagency cooperation in 2019.

It should be noted that the draft Strategy is being developed on the basis of eleven European principles of integrated border management and in close cooperation with the EU high-level advisory group.

Summing up the meeting, First Deputy Head of the State Border Service Vasyl Servatiuk emphasized the importance of developing the Strategy with joining efforts of all participants of the integrated border management sector.