For the first time, Frontex is carrying out border controls outside the EU: in Moldova on the border with Ukraine. The EU wants to curb organized crime – and prevent drugs, illegal migrants and weapons from entering the EU.
It is a first for Frontex. For the first time, the EU border protection agency is carrying out so-called “first line checks” outside the European Union. This is a new level of cooperation with the EU’s neighboring countries, said Frontex spokesman Piotr Świtalski. Frontex is currently active in five countries outside the EU: Moldova, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia.
“This requires a special agreement between the EU and the respective country. Today, 93 Frontex officers provide support with equipment and patrol vehicles. For example, they support Moldova in carrying out border controls primarily through Frontex officers,” said Świtalski.
Moldova is important for protection at the EU’s external borders
Located between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is a major hub for organized crime. In the East they benefit from the chaos of the war, while in the West the EU’s lucrative sales territory beckons. At the same time, the government in the capital Chișinău does not have the means to expand border protection on a large scale.
That’s why the EU is called upon here, as Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson explains. Frontex is already working very closely with the Moldovan border guard. The country is not yet in the EU, but plays an important role in its protection, said Johansson. “For example in the fight against drug and weapons smuggling. This is already very important now, and will unfortunately become even more important after the war.”
Weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists
Because then there could be a boom in the illegal arms trade, suspects Frontex deputy director Lars Gerdes. Due to the war in Ukraine, there is already almost unhindered access to weapons and explosives, much of which could then potentially end up in a criminal market.
According to Gerdes, weapons that come from the Balkan conflicts are still being found today. “Now we are dealing with more modern weapons in Ukraine and also with a higher quantity. This is a crime phenomenon that will certainly concern us across borders for decades to come.” Gerdes fears that these smuggled weapons would be used to supply criminal networks, organized criminals or, in the worst case, terrorists in Europe.
Important signal for possible EUcandidate countries
The EU has no choice but to prepare border protection in neighboring countries for what could come, says EU MP Lena Dupont. The domestic policy spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU group in the EU Parliament is therefore convinced that the cooperation agreements are essential for internal security.
“But they also have another aspect, which can be seen wonderfully in the example of the Republic of Moldova. They are also a cooperation and therefore a political signal to states that are in the candidate process.”
The Republic of Moldova is something like the best in class, and not just when it comes to cooperation in border management or accepting Ukrainian refugees. And when the EU Commission presents its report next Wednesday on the progress of possible new members towards EU accession, it would not be a surprise if Moldova was recommended to start accession negotiations.