In the framework of implementation of the Protocol Decision on the Principles of Resumption of a Full-scale Freight Railway Communication through the Territory of Transdniestria expert groups on customs issues of Transdniestria and Moldova have convened a working meeting aimed at elaboration of protocol on joint customs control at railway stations Bendery-2 and Rybnitsa.
The enlarged meeting has taken place in the building of the customs terminal “Novy Goyan” of the Dubossary customs house with participation of representatives of customs services of the sides, the chiefs of Transdniestrian and Moldavian customs bodies, heads of departments and heads of neighboring customs check points at Transdniestrian-Moldavian border. The main purpose was to discuss the possibilities of cooperation in customs area.
The mechanism for performance of joint operations over import flows proposed by Moldavian colleagues in the course of the meeting gave rise to a number of issues concerning the assurance of interests of Transdniestrian economic operators. Experts agreed to finalize elaboration of this mechanism during the next meeting. An emphasis was made on the point that the final document shall meet economic interests of both states – Transdniestria and Moldova.
The participants of the working meeting have divided into two groups one of which has been focused on the issues of resumption of railway freight traffic and elaboration of technological scheme of joint customs control over export and transit cargoes at railway stations Bendery-2 and Rybnitsa. Let’s remind that this work is carried out with a view to remove barriers which hamper unimpeded economic activity on both banks of the river Dniester.
The mechanism for performance of joint operations over import flows proposed by Moldavian colleagues in the course of the meeting gave rise to a number of issues concerning the assurance of interests of Transdniestrian economic operators. Experts agreed to finalize elaboration of this mechanism during the next meeting. An emphasis was made on the point that the final document shall meet economic interests of both states – Transdniestria and Moldova.In the framework of the meeting the parties have coordinated the issues of use of customs seals and stamps in the process of joint customs operations.
The second working group has focused its attention on discussing possible perspectives of cooperation pertaining to information exchange the key purpose of which is to minimize risks of trans-border smuggling.
The parties have also discussed the possibilities of law-enforcement cooperation to counteract contraband and to solve problems relating to simplification of flow of people and goods across the border. The first step in this direction was the elaboration of the simplified procedure through the customs check points in the period of Easter holidays.
Customs officers of the sides have also discussed the possibility of fulfillment of the procedure for receiving and transmitting vehicles with cargoes coming from Ukraine to Moldova (and backward) in transit through Transdniestria. An important step in this context was the discussed Transdniestria’s participation in pre-arrival information exchange system functioning between Moldova and Ukraine.
Despite of the fact that the sides have not always managed to find mutually acceptable solutions they have expressed their intention to continue work in the aforementioned directions in order to create favorable conditions for movement of goods and people across the border and ensure efficient customs control over these flows.
