Ukraine is implementing a 'smart border': how border guards are transitioning to EU standards

Completion of the international training project

In Lviv, the international training project 'Smart Border for Ukraine' has successfully concluded, aimed at integrating the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine into European standards. The project was implemented with the support of Estonia and with the participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of that country, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, and the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM). Funding for the initiative was provided by the Estonian International Development Fund.

Fifty Ukrainian border guards underwent training as part of the project. The training program covered key aspects such as:

• Schengen zone legislation,
• European border security standards,
• modern profiling and risk analysis methods.

Major General Valeriy Vavryniuk, who is the First Deputy Head of the SBGS, emphasized the importance of integration, stating that

integration remains a priority despite the war

.

Development of the Integrated Border Management System

Even in a state of war, the SBGS continues to develop the integrated border management system. The main legal document regulating border control is the Schengen Borders Code. Within the framework of integrated border management (IBM), four key elements are highlighted:

• interdepartmental cooperation,
• international cooperation,
• border control,
• human rights protection.

These elements contribute to enhancing the efficiency of border guards and bring Ukraine closer to European border security standards.

The completion of the project 'Smart Border for Ukraine' indicates Ukraine's strategic aspiration to integrate into the European border security system, which is an important step towards ensuring security and stability in the region. This project, implemented amid war, underscores Ukraine's efforts towards the implementation of European standards, which can positively affect the country's international image and its cooperation with the EU. The successful implementation of training programs for border guards can also contribute to improving border control, which is particularly relevant in the context of modern security challenges.