Transborder Cooperation, Building Bridges Brussels, Belgium, 30 June 2 July 2015 Dorel Fronea
Europe 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 2
Transborder Cooperation The cross- border cooperation holds an important potential for integration of patterns of development on both sides of the border; for enhancement of the local democracy and civil society; for sustainable development, stability and prosperity in the whole wider area under consideration Cross- border regions under its geo- economic position serves as natural bridges of economic cooperation of neighbouring countries; herewith their development mostly depends on the economic peculiarities and political interrelations on the international level, on the correlation contact and barrier functions of borders. In the policy of European institutions EU and European Council an important position has the cross border and transboundary (or interregional) cooperationunder different forms In the European Outline Convention from 1980 on cross- border cooperation between territorial communities or authorities, to which adhered Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine, the cross border cooperation implies any coordinated actions, aimed to the consolidation and encouragement of good neighbourhood relations between territorial communities and authorities, being under the jurisdiction of two or more agreed parties and conclusion of any agreements and arrangements, necessary for fulfillingthis aim The cross- border cooperation in the ENP and Eastern Partnership (EP) programmes is to be considered as an important tool for the achievement of the aims of these policies and especiallyfor creating an area of stability, peace, sustainable development and overwhelming social and economic progress on the borders, which is shared by the EU and its eastern neighbouring countries Information from open sources 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 3
International Customs Co- operation and Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements This cooperation should help customs authorities to use new instruments or increase the efficiency in existing tools for the control of the trade flows and the fight against fraud and illegal activities The Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreements, allow parties to put the necessary tools for customs cooperation in place For the benefit ofworld trade and international assistance to fight against customs fraud, the European Union has signed customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance agreements (Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, US, India, China and Japan). The European Union also has Partnership and Co- operation Agreements with a number of countries, including Russia and Ukraine, which cover customs co- operation andinclude a protocol on mutual administrativeassistance 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 4
Eastern Partnership Platform 1 on Democracy, Good Governance and Stability established: Ø Panel on IntegratedBorder Management (IBM) Ø Panel on Fight Against Corruption Ø Panel on Administrative Reform Platform 2 on Economic Integration and Convergence with EU Policies established: Ø Panel on Small and Business Enterprise (SME) Ø Panel on Trade and Trade Related Regulatory Approximation, linked to DCFTAs (Trade panel) Ø Panel on Environment and Climate Change 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 5
Study case transborder cooperation between Romania and Republic of Moldova E.U. internal border : Hungary 448,0 km Bulgaria 631,3 km Borş Petea Urziceni Valea lui Mihai E.U. external border : Moldova 681,3 km 6 customs offices Ukraine 649,4 km 5 customs offices Serbia 546,4 km 5 customs offices Black Sea 193,5 km 3 customs offices Danube 1.075 km 10 customs offices Vărand Turnu Nadlac Cenad Dr Tr Severin Calafat Bechet BUCURESTI Alexandria Focsani Slobozia Ostrov Negru Voda Vama Veche 7/20/15 6
The level of illicit trade with cigarettes in Romania 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea Source: Novel Research
Study case Customs Cooperation between Romania and Republic of Moldova 1. January2010 level of illicit traffic 36,3 % (Start to decrease) Measures taken in Romania: Ø Creating a Task Force Group to develop and oversee The National Strategy for Fighting Against Illicit Trade in Cigarettes (Members: National Customs Authority, Financial Guard, Border Police, National Police, Secret Service and main tobacco producers JTI, BAT, PMI) Ø Increasing customs cooperation with neighboring countries (Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia) and with OLAF, WCO, EUBAM, SELEC (Example ofgood practice ROMOLUK 2013) Ø Increasing institutional dialogue with main tobacco producers (JTI, BAT, PMI) Results: July2013 level of illicit trade decreased to11,8 % 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 8
Ro- MD customs cooperation January2010 level of illicit traffic 36,3 % (Start todecrease) Measures taken in developing the transborder cooperation between Romanian and Moldavian Customs Authorities: Ø In 2010 was signed the first protocol of cooperation between the two customs authorities (which is in force also today) Actions : 2010 started the exchange ofexperience at the managerial level 2011 started the punctual exchange ofinformation regarding the fight against customs frauds 2011 Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova started to scan all the trucks which were going into EU 2012 approx. 60 customs officers were trained by the National Customs Authority ofromania, at the NCAR trainingcenter 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 9
Ro- MD customs cooperation Actions : 2012 EU established a Customs Strategic Framework Group (with representatives from Romania and other EU countries 2013 took place the ROMOLUK JCO, coordinated by Romanian Customs Authority and OLAF with the participation of Moldavian and Ukrainian Customs Authorities 2013 was the first JCO with K9 teams at the border between Romania and Republicof Moldova 2013 started the discussion for mutual recognition of AEO between Romanian and Moldavian Customs Authorities Results: July2013 level of illicit trade decreased to11,8 % 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 10
The benefits of Romanian Moldavian transborder cooperation Romania and EU ü The illicit trade with cigarettes was reduced from 36,2 % in 2010 till 11,8% in July 2013 ü A very important part of EU border (681 km) and also EU financial interests are well protected Republic of Moldova ü The income to the budget increased; ü The institutional dialogue between customs and private sector was developed (in 2012 was signed the first Memorandum of Understanding between Moldavian Customs Service and representatives of tobacco industry) ü Moldavian Customs Service became a trustful partner not only for Romanian Customs Authority but also for other EU institutions (in 2013 Customs Service of Republic of Moldova signed the first Memorandum of Understandingwith OLAF) 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 11
What have to be done for developing a trustful transborder cooperation Transborder cooperation is not only about borders. Is also about sharing good governance values, improving dialogues and developing trustful cooperation between the countries. All the law enforcement authorities in the EU eastern countries should be reorganized to better counter new threats and challenges from the region resultingfrom vulnerabilities in the economicand social environment. Create a Border Integrated Information Centre (with representatives from EU Eastern countries, OLAF, EUROPOL, INTERPOL, FRONTEX, EUBAM, SELEC) with the responsibility to manage an integrated risk analysis database and to coordinate the JCO/JBO from this region The law enforcement authorities from the Eastern Europe (EU and Non EU countries) have to be involved in JCO/JBO, according to the principle launched at the WCO Heads of Customs Authorities Meeting (Kiev 2012) Dismantle the Barriers 7/20/15 Dorel Fronea 12
Building Bridges, Developing Cooperation! Thank you! Dorel FRONEA e- mail: dfronea@yahoo.com Mobile: 0040 722 637 675