The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ana Revenco, presented today, in a press briefing, the results obtained following her participation in the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs (JHA) of the EU, in Prague.
Following the dialogue and the exchange of opinions within the Council, it was found that Moldova has the capabilities to defend Europe together with the EU states and that the geographical position and capabilities of our country are important in the stability and peace of the entire European continent. Practically, by inviting and participating our country at the JHA, alongside the European decision-makers in the field of internal affairs, the Republic of Moldova is recognized for its role as a security producer for the European space, forming together with the EU member countries a fortified security belt at the border with the war.
The Hub will support Moldova’s specific needs in the field of internal security and border management, including through EU funding instruments. The focus will be on firearms trafficking, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, cybercrime and drug trafficking.
“Immediately after the start of the establishment, the first meeting of the security HUB took place. The first meeting of the Hub took place in Prague on 11 July and was chaired by the Deputy Director General of DG Home, Olivier Onidi and the EU Ambassador in Chisinau, HE Jānis Mažeiks. The meeting was attended by members of the European agencies (Frontex and Europol), and from the EU member states, as well as a team of specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova. The central theme of the meeting was arms and ammunition trafficking,” the minister said.
The meeting began with the presentation of risk analyzes to identify synergies and common points of action. At the same time, new financing lines were identified, which the Republic of Moldova can access only in partnership with the EU member states.
Spain and Romania stated that they will initiate the project documents in collaboration with the MAI of the Republic of Moldova, it being possible to equip the HUB with the technique, by the end of the year.
In conclusion, the signatories agreed that the next meetings will take place in August and September, with human trafficking and cybercrimes as central topics of debate.
“With the opening of the HUB in Chisinau, we will have more technology, access to operational data, more intensive information exchange, access to funds allocated for the activities of the HUB, other than those with which we already operate. In addition, the existence of the HUB in Chisinau will be an element that will weigh heavily in the evaluations for our country’s accession to the EU. We will already work with European instruments. This means confidence, knowledge and capabilities, which will be strengthened day by day. The field of public security and the field of internal affairs will already work according to the models and standards of the EU internal affairs system”, stressed Ana Revenco.
The Security HUB is an operational mechanism, which will operate in Chisinau and will host regular meetings between EU representatives, European agencies, EU Member States and the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, to support cooperation in the field of internal security and border management. It is flexible because it must respond in a real-time manner to existing needs and overcome the current bureaucratic mechanisms and procedures that delay operations against organized crime. The HUB will operate in a hybrid format, online and in Chisinau, through periodic meetings, which will be co-chaired by the EU and Moldova. With each meeting of the Hub, operational actions will be facilitated, such as the launch of specific investigations or trainings.
The EU Delegation to Moldova, covering DG HOME and DG JUST, will facilitate the operation of the Hub and provide logistical support. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will contribute specialists and knowledge, which it will pool with the resources provided by Member States and Agencies. There will also be interdisciplinary teams. Depending on the topics and operations, from 4 to over 50 specialists will be able to be delegated, who will work in operational activities.
The members of the Hub will be representatives of European agencies, EU member states, RM authorities, (a Europol expert, a Frontex representative, an EUBAM representative, a representative of each member state, representatives of DG Home, DG Near, as well as employees of the internal affairs system of the Republic of Moldova).
As part of the EU’s comprehensive support package for Moldova, the Hub’s objectives are to enhance and pool the support that the EU and Member States provide to the Republic of Moldova to strengthen its law enforcement and border management capacities (creating synergies and avoiding duplication of actions). Also, the unique coordination of EU and member state support tools and measures granted to the Republic of Moldova in the field of internal security and border management will be achieved. Likewise, it will provide access opportunities through cooperation mechanisms in terms of information exchange, analysis and operational cooperation with Europol, Frontex in border management and especially for the detection of firearms trafficking, with the EU Border Assistance Mission in Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) on the border segment and especially in combating human trafficking and operational action through the European Multidisciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).
