Acronym

OpenBorders

NUMBER

PBU1/0506/16

Project type

Regular project

STATUS

Completed

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE

BORDERS

PRIORITY

4.1 Support to border efficiency and security

PARTNERSHIP

PL-UA

LEAD BENEFICIARY

Lublin Executive Board for Maintenance of Border Crossings in Chełm (Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland)

BENEFICIARY

State Fiscal Service of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Project description

Border control points and crossing them by travellers are elements affecting the cooperation in every aspect. The border openness is important to build lasting partnership between communities. Security is another crucial element in border functioning, so that border crime forms (smuggling of goods and people, drugs and gun trafficking) do not overshadow good neighbour relations. In case of Zosin–Ustyluh border crossing point the eastern border concerns not only Poland but also the EU/Schengen zone.

The OpenBorders project was created to make the Polish-Ukrainian border more open, flexible and secured. Firstly by facilitating the traffic of people, goods and services and secondly by strengthening controls to reduce the undesirable practices at the Zosin–Ustyluh point. The construction of new exit platform from Poland of the border crossing is planned with creating new check-in passes, i.e. three new clearance lanes, two clearance pavilions, squares, roads, sidewalks, lighting, electric and telecommunication systems etc. Each of the pavilions will consist of two functionally separate parts, one for the Border Guard and one for the Customs and Tax Service. Moreover, to provide fluent and safety border traffic, the specialist equipment will be purchased (passport readers, computers, document shredders). In addition, via the Project Steering Group and a conference, the project will allow the exchange of know-how and experiences between Polish and Ukrainian border guards.

As a result, a fully functional check-in infrastructure will be functioning at Zosin–Ustyluh crossing simplifying and speeding up the process of its crossing, strengthening the control and safety at the same time. In a long period it should enhance the cross-border connections, important not only for inhabitants of neighbouring Lublskie Voivodeship in Poland and Volyn Oblast in Ukraine, but for all citizens of the European Union and Ukraine.