Moldova, Romania to launch joint border control in April

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Moldova and Romania will launch joint border control at the largest checkpoint between the two countries in April, Moldova’s interior minister said on Wednesday.

“The new mode of operation of the most demanded border crossing point will reduce the waiting time. Negotiations on such a regime usually take years, but the Moldovan government quickly approved an agreement with Romania. We are confident that our colleagues from Romania will also speed up the process so that this regime is already in place by the Easter holidays,” Ana Revenco said during an interview with Moldovan TV channel RLIVE.

Moldovan and Romanian border guards and customs officers have already agreed on a scheme for the joint control of the Albita-Leuseni checkpoint, Revenko said, adding that the Leova-Bumbata checkpoint will also open this spring, ensuring accelerated traffic at the border.

“Works at the new Leova-Bumbata checkpoint also show positive dynamics. All stages of the documentation are completed so that we can move on with the construction process. There will be a new border checkpoint, which also involves the construction of a bridge,” he further said.

On Feb. 1, the Moldovan parliament approved the signing of an agreement between Chisinau and Bucharest on a joint border control at the Albita-Leuseni checkpoint, which will be valid for a six-month period and will have the option to be extended based on the results of a joint assessment of the checkpoint’s operations.