Border Guards from Ukraine and Belarus Explore Migration Management and Border Control in Portugal

On 13-17 October 2014, a joint delegation of Belarusian and Ukrainian border guards visited Portugal to study the country’s experience in combating irregular migration and conducting immigration control. The visit was organized within the framework of the EU-funded project, “Strengthening surveillance and bilateral coordination capacity along the common border between Belarus and Ukraine (SURCAP Phase II)”.

Through a number of site visits to the SEF (Immigration and Border Police) Headquarters and field offices, the Portugal-Spain Joint Cooperation Center, Lisbon airport’s border checkpoint and temporary detention facility, and the Porto migrant custody centre, the officers from Ukraine and Belarus acquired theoretical and practical knowledge on the current state of and best practices in immigration, asylum, and border control in Portugal.

Moreover, during the study trip, the border officials from the visiting countries established working relations with their colleagues from the Portuguese border police and respective immigration authorities. In order to ensure further sustainability and long lasting effects, the Belarusian and Ukrainian border guards will share the acquired knowledge with the respective staff of their own border agencies and remain in contact with their new Portuguese counterparts.

Background:

The regional project titled, “Strengthening surveillance and bilateral coordination capacity along the common border between Belarus and Ukraine (SURCAP Phase II)” will be implemented in 2014-2016. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM with the support of ICMPD. The project’s budget for the two countries constitutes EUR 5,350,000, covering the training and equipment procurement components.

For more detailed information, please contact the responsible IOM officer in Minsk:
Pavel Kholod, Programmes Coordinator, IOM Minsk, tel: (375 17) 284 40 82