On March 17, 2022, the European Union signed a legally binding agreement with the Republic of Moldova on border management cooperation between Moldovan border guards and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
Of the over 3 million people who have so far fled from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 300,000 persons so far have sought safety in Moldova. Moldovan border guards are facing challenges both in view of the high number of arrivals and sharing a border with an active war zone.
To support the Moldovan authorities to address these challenges, this agreement will allow for increased deployment of Frontex teams. Their tasks could include border management tasks such as screening, registration and identity checks of people crossing the border, working hand in hand with the Moldovan authorities. This could help support the transfer of persons to EU Member States in the context of the Solidarity Platform. Frontex teams could also assist the Moldovan authorities in border surveillance tasks as well as help in the collection and exchange of information.
A full press release is available online