NEWS 4th Quarterly Newsletter 2017 LETTER INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT Dear Reader, IN THIS ISSUE: - Upcoming project activities - Project News - Interview with Maka Khvedelidze News from around the border world Welcome to the latest issue of Integrated Border Management, covering events in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the Eastern Partnership Integrated Border Management (EaP-IBM) Capacity Building Project. This quarter we interview Maka Khvedelidze of the Georgian Revenue Service, who provides us with insights into a process we started reporting on last quarter: a series of trainings in which Georgian customs officers learned from their Serbian counterparts about the common transit procedure and the implementation of the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). That s part of Georgia s broader preparations for the Common Transit Convention, which Ms Khvedelidze briefed us on. We also report on another peer-to-peer programme, in which Polish customs officers travelled to Moldova to conduct training in X-ray image interpretation. As usual, this quarter also featured training events for customs officers and Border Guards from all six EaP countries, including a session on body language and verbal communication skills held in Kiev, and workshops in Zagreb on improving Border Guard training capacities. We hope you had a relaxing holiday break over the turn of the year. As you gear up for 2018, don t forget to check our list of upcoming events. Happy Reading! The Editors www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu
4th Quarterly Newsletter 2017 Issue no. 11 THE PROJECT PARTNERS: AN INTRODUCTION Frontex The need to coordinate the border-management activities of an enlarged European Union was what led to the creation, in 2004, of Frontex the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union. Essentially, Frontex helps border authorities from different EU countries work together. It is tasked with reinforcing and streamlining cooperation between national border authorities. The new Regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard entered into force on 6 October 2016. As a result, the agency is now called Frontex - European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The World Customs Organization (WCO) The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council, is an independent inter-governmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of customs administrations. Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium. Today, the WCO represents 180 customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. The International Organization for Migration Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. With 157 member states, a further 10 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IOM OIM The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), established in 1993 by Austria and Switzerland, is an international organisation headquartered in Vienna working in migration-related fields. Specifically, ICMPD works in the fields of irregular migration and return, trafficking in human beings, border management and visa, asylum, migration and development, and legal migration and integration. 2 www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu
Project News CUSTOMS OFFICERS FROM EAP COUNTRIES IMPROVE INTERVIEWING SKILLS Customs officers from all six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine took part in a regional training for National Multipliers aimed at improving communication skills needed to detect illegal activities at Border Crossing Points. The training, which took place in Kiev, Ukraine on 9-13 October, focused on techniques that help customs officers identify criminals and traffickers by their body language and verbal communication during customs control. Participants learnt about new interviewing techniques and the benefits of reading body language. The main part of the training dealt with the observation and analysis of emotions transmitted through facial expressions; the movement of eyes, hands, legs and feet; and para-verbal outputs. These skills will help participants assess the intentions of persons crossing the border. Equipped with new knowledge and skills, the customs officers who took part in the training will now disseminate these methods among customs officers in their countries. X-RAY IMAGE INTERPRETATION REGIONAL TRAINING HELD IN MOLDOVA training was to provide information on interpretation of images during customs inspections, as well as to showcase European Union best practices in this area. Experts from the Polish Customs Service explained to participants from the six EaP countries how the X-ray inspection system is organised in this EU Member State. From 28-30 November Frontex together with the Polish Revenue Administration held a workshop on X-ray scanning in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. The aim of the regional Part of the training was dedicated to practical exercises. Participants had the opportunity to interpret X-ray images taken during scanning of vehicles. Working in groups and using computer software simulating X-ray equipment, they learned how to read various images UPCOMING PROJECT ACTIVITIES: JANUARY: - Training on classification of goods and customs laboratory, Tbilisi, Georgia - Eastern Partnership Risk Analysis Network (EaP-RAN) Annual Analytical Review meeting, Warsaw, Poland - Processing data on IAP evaluation and compiling IAP study (first expert meeting), Warsaw, Poland FEBRUARY: - Processing data on IAP evaluation and compiling IAP study (second expert meeting), Warsaw, Poland - Common Integrated Risk Analysis Model (CIRAM) for risk analysis experts, Tbilisi, Georgia - Frontex RAU experts field visit to Tbilisi, Georgia - National training for Border Guards on Interview Techniques, Minsk, Belarus MARCH - National X-ray images interpretation training for Belarusian Customs, Minsk, Belarus - Eastern Partnership Risk Analysis Network (EaP-RAN) meeting, Warsaw Poland - Regional Interview techniques training for border guards, Kiev, Ukraine - Regional Screening and Identification of Nationalities training for border guards, Chisinau, Moldova www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu 3
4th Quarterly Newsletter 2017 Issue no. 11 Project News GEORGIAN CUSTOMS OFFICERS VISIT SERBIA IN PREPARATION FOR COMMON TRANSIT PROCEDURES Representatives of the Georgia Revenue Service (GRS) visited the Serbian Customs Administration on 18-19 October to familiarise themselves with the practicalities of the common transit procedures and the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). Representatives of the GRS had the opportunity to visit the Help Desk Unit and discussed with unit staff the main challenges faced by customs officials in the transit of goods through the territory of Serbia. The study visit was organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and followed three national workshops that took place earlier this year with the aim of helping Georgia prepare for accession to the Common Transit Convention and implementation of the NCTS. The Serbian Customs Administration, which recently implemented the NCTS and joined the Common Transit Convention, demonstrated how the NCTS functions in practice, and discussed the Guarantee Management system and Authorisation Management system. FRONTEX CELEBRATES ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGENCY S HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT On 21 November, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency celebrated the entry into force of the Agency s Headquarters Agreement with the Republic of Poland. Prime Minister Beata Szydło, and European Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos were honorary guests at the event. The Headquarters Agreement entered into force on 1 November 2017, following a ratification process in the Polish parliament. It defines the legal status of the Agency and its staff in Poland. Having coordinated operations at the EU s external borders since its establishment in 2004, Frontex became the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in October 2016. The Agency is growing rapidly following the expansion of its role and activities. 4 www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu
Project News REGIONAL TRAINING ON IMPROVING BORDER GUARD CAPACITIES IN ZAGREB Fifteen representatives of Border Guards and respective training institutions from all six Eastern Partnership countries attended a regional workshop in the Croatian capital of Zagreb on building Border Guard training capacities. The training, which took place from 21-23 November, was organised by Frontex in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Police Academy in Zagreb. The aim of the workshops was to develop training programmes, set up infrastructure, help organize workshops, train administration and management and familiarise them with the latest technical solutions related to training and conducting core processes in their institutions. EASTERN PARTNERSHIP RISK ANALYSIS NETWORK MEETS IN WARSAW Representatives of all six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries attended a meeting of the EaP Risk Analysis Network (EaP- RAN) at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw on 30 November. The aim of the end-of-year meeting was to discuss the EaP- RAN Annual Risk Analysis 2018 and other aspects of Frontex- EaP countries joint analytical work. As of January 2016 the EaP-RAN was expanded to include Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the EaP Integrated Border Management Capacity Building Project. EXPERT MEETING ON PROCESSING CCC IMPLEMENTATION STATUS DATA FOR IAP STUDY Experts from European Union Member States held a meeting at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw from 20-24 November to discuss processing data on the implementation of the Common Core Curriculum (CCC) status for the Interoperability Assessment Programme (IAP) study. Participants in the meeting identified problems in the administration of the CCC-IAP evaluation tool, discussed further steps that need to be taken and reviewed issues such as the dates of national evaluations and the number of test takers. The IAP study for Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries in 2017-2018 follows the same structure, development principles and methods as the previous study compiled for EU Member States in 2013-2015. The crucial part of this evaluation programme is the principle of interoperability among border and coast guards in EaP countries, as well as interoperability with their counterparts from EU Member States. In comparison with the 2013-2015 study, the current evaluation will benefit from data gathered by external experts during their visits in EaP countries in 2016-2017 to monitor the status of Frontex CCC 2012 implementation. www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu 5
4th Quarterly Newsletter 2017 Issue no. 11 INTERVIEW WITH MAKA KHVEDELIDZE, DEPUTY HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF THE REVENUE SERVICE IN GEORGIA, ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMMON TRANSIT CONVENTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW COMPUTERISED TRANSIT SYSTEM We need to identify to what extent our system is compatible with the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS). After we achieve that, we need to upgrade the system to meet the requirements. Particular attention should be paid to ICT provision, development, customization and possible integration with UNCTAD s Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). In what ways does the EAP-IBM Capacity Building Project support you in your preparations for CTC and the implementation of the NCTS? We have benefited from a number of seminars and study visits offered within the scope of the EAP-IBM Capacity Building Project. We are treating the Project as an important and practical preparatory step for the upcoming twinning project. MAKA KHVEDELIDZE What are Georgia s plans with regard to the Common Transit Convention? Georgia intends to accede to the Convention as soon as possible. In 2014 the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), was signed in Brussels. It comprises a number of annexes obliging Georgia to harmonise its laws with those of the EU. Annex XIII, which covers Customs Legislation, requires Georgia to approximate its laws to the provisions of the CTC and the convention on a common transit procedure (SAD), including possible accession to those Conventions by Georgia. Does implementation of the Convention require a lot of preparations? It certainly does. To be able to approximate and possibly accede to the Common Transit Convention, Georgia has to change its regulatory framework and enhance the administrative capacity of the Customs Administration. Proper implementation of the new rules requires practical knowledge: the Georgian authorities simply need to learn new procedural provisions. We will receive support from customs authorities of certain EU member states through a twinning project. With regard to the implementation of the New Computerized Transit System, what is the biggest challenge? Have you asked Frontex to address any specific issues during those seminars, workshops and study visits? When we were launching talks with the representatives of DG TAXUD and the EAP-IBM Capacity Building Project, we stressed that we would like to take advantage of insights from a country that has just acceded to the Convention and implemented the NCTS. Serbia turned out to be an excellent example, with high-level experts. A team from the Serbian customs administration under the leadership of Mr. Veselin Milošević, Deputy Director General of the Serbian Customs Administration, proved to be very dedicated, and provided us with very valuable preparatory background. How did that process look in practice? There were a total of three workshops held in Georgia in May, July and September last year. Experts from the Serbian Customs Administration visited Tbilisi and shared the experiences they had with the preparation and implementation process. We discussed the required changes in national regulations, organizational challenges for administration, issues pertaining to IT capacity and the Guarantee system mechanism, as well as other points. Moreover, we talked about how to communicate the change to the private sector. In October six members of our working group on CTC/NCTS, from the Customs Department, IT center, Legal Department and Department for International Relations visited the Serbian Customs Administration to learn how the NCTS works in practice. Have you found these workshops helpful? I think they have been very helpful. They alerted us to all the practical challenges that we might come across during the implementation process for the legal, procedural and ICT aspects. Moreover, the workshops allowed us to take a holistic approach in setting up the legal framework. What will the next steps be for Georgia in preparation for the CTC? Equipped with this wealth of knowledge, we will be setting up the legal, administrative and technical environment we need in order to accede to the CTC, and we will work on the implementation of the NCTS. And we will not be doing this alone. A consortium of customs authorities from Finland, Poland and Latvia, under the umbrella of the Twinning project, will assist us in pursuing this task, starting in Spring 2018. 6 www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu
Project News REGIONAL FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TRAINING FOR BORDER GUARDS IN MINSK Twelve Border Guard representatives from the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries attended a regional training on Fundamental Rights issues in the Belarusian capital of Minsk from 14-16 November. The third Fundamental Rights training course held under the EaP Integrated Border Management Capacity Building Project helped participants get acquainted with different teaching approaches and practices, and showed how to apply them in the development of their training programmes. The multipliers from the beneficiary countries deepened their knowledge of Fundamental Rights and developed skills and competences in teaching the principles to Border Guards. CCC 2012 IMPLEMENTATION - STUDENT EVALUATION IN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE Frontex continued conducting student evaluations of the implementation of its Common Core Curriculum (CCC) for Border and Coast Guard basic training through the Interoperability Assessment Programme (IAP). As part of the evaluation in Georgia and Ukraine on 3-9 December, Frontex experts visited the Police Academy in Tbilisi and the State Border Guard Service Academy in Khmelnytsky, Ukraine. The objective was to provide assistance to national multipliers with the administration of the IAP evaluation and reporting to the Frontex Learning Management System (LMS), as well as assisting students with providing feedback to Frontex LMS. NATIONAL TRAINING FOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS ON COMMON TRANSIT CONVENTION IN BAKU Customs officials from the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee attended a national training on the Common Transit Convention (CTC) and the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). The workshop took place in Baku on 5-7 December and was organised by Frontex in cooperation with the European Commission s Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD). During the training, customs experts from Serbia shared their experience in the process of preparation for joining the CTC and implementation of the NCTS. The common transit procedure is used for the movement of goods between European Union Member States, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia. www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu 7
4th Quarterly Newsletter 2017 Issue no. 11 NEWS FROM AROUND THE BORDER WORLD FRANCE French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to tighten immigration laws in response to an appeal from the mayors of seven cities, who argue that the country is failing to cope with the social challenges of the current influx of migrants. LIBYA/NIGERIA More than 25,000 Nigerian citizens are being held in slave camps in Libya, according to a December report from Nigeria s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the EU have helped repatriate about 5,000 people, according to the agency. CROATIA Croatia took in its first group of Syrian refugees in late November, welcoming a group of 36 who arrived in the country as part of a pilot resettlement programme organised by the country s government with the International Organization for Migration. A total of 150 refugees are scheduled to be relocated in the country. ROMANIA The number of migrants apprehended while attempting to illegally cross the Hungarian border increased more than seven-fold in the first 10 months of 2017, to 2,400 from 330 in the same period a year earlier. DENMARK/GERMANY Denmark started deploying soldiers to its border with Germany in late September, after more than a year of discussions on how to relieve the burden on the country s police force. In addition to the border, the group of 160 soldiers total will also patrol potential terrorist targets including Copenhagen s Great Synagogue. MEDITERRANEAN Just over 3,000 migrants died crossing the Mediterranean in the first 11 months of 2017, according to the International Organization for Migration. The figure compares with 5,000 deaths in 2016. Articles taken from open sources PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION 8 www.eap-ibm-capacitybuilding.eu eapproject@frontex.europa.eu