In 2017, the Romanian Border Police pursued the fulfillment of duties granted by law in force, as regards the optimization of border surveillance and control and the efficient countering of cross-border crime.
OBJECTIVES:
While carrying out the specific activities, the Romanian Border Police aimed at achieving the following objectives:
- Efficient management of illegal migration and cross-border crime recorded in the territorial competence area of the Border Police, through the implementation, in a unitary way, of the specific measures for prevention and countering, the coordination – within the limits and provisions established by law - of the activities carried out by the subordinated structures and effective development of investigation actions related to organized crime, illegal migration and cross-border crime;
- Implementation of national and European policies and priorities, in a unitary and coherent way pursuant to the duties granted by the specific law in the field of activity;
- Permanent monitoring, coordination and evaluation of activities on the development of border control, of the implementation mode of Schengen aquis at the level of subordinated structures and following European best practices in the activity of border control;
- Ensuring the high level representation of the Romanian state of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Romanian Border Police in the cooperation relations with the similar structures from the neighbouring states, with the counterpart institutions of EU Member States, with the European agencies and other collaborating institutions;
- Ensuring the necessary of human resources, land and maritime technique, mobility means and other specific equipment and material assets in order to develop the missions by all the subordinated structures;
- Efficient management and use of financial resources allocated to the institution.
ACHIEVED PERFROMANCE INDICATORS:
- The traffic values recorded in the border crossing points reached approximately 700.000 persons (49.200.000 EU citizens and 10.500.000 non-EU citizens) and 16.150.000 transportation means.
In comparison to 2016, the traffic values for the persons crossing the Romanian border increased with 6%, but a significant increase of approximately 30% was ascertained at the border with Bulgaria and 20% at the air border.
In 2017, the Romanian Border Police carried out systematic checks on EU and non-EU citizens transiting the border, according to the provisions of EU Regulation 458 of 2017, in order to prevent the crossing of border by persons originating from conflict areas and who can carry out activities representing a real threat against internal and external security. The increase of the security level at the EU external borders as well as the observance of internal law and defense of national interest was envisaged.
The capacity of the border crossing points, the number of border guards carrying out border check and the equipment used for travel document control were used at maximum.
From structural point of view, during 2017, our institution undertook measures to make efficient the organizational framework in order to ensure the number of personnel for optimum border control activity. Hence, the activity of the Center for Surveillance and Border Crossing Control Airport Bucharest Otopeni was reorganized due to the massive increase of the traffic of passengers and the modification of airport infrastructure.
At the same time, the number of posts was supplemented in other five airport border crossing points - Cluj, Timișoara, Iași, Craiova and Bacău, bearing in mind the increase of the traffic values.
At the Romanian-Bulgarian border, Lipnița Border Crossing Point was launched; its opening was realized for the enhancement of bilateral relations between states, responding to the wishes of promotion and supporting the common interests; 10 temporary border crossing points were opened at the Romanian-Hungarian border.
- In 2017, 591 illegal deeds were ascertained, out of which 8.436 crimes and 8.155 sanctions.
Most of the detected crimes were related to attempt or illegal border crossing (2.852 crimes), followed by economic-financial crimes, including goods smuggling (1.264 crimes) and fish poaching (727 crimes).
Last year, at the border with Serbia, several penal crimes were detected, representing 22.4% of the total number of crimes ascertained at the Romanian border and most of the sanctions were applied at the border with Republic of Moldova (32.9% of the total number).
In 2017, 5.462 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country for not complying with the legal entry provisions. The main reasons were the following: does not hold a valid visa or stay permit, do not hold the necessary documents in order to justify the purpose and stay conditions.
Also, as a result of the controls, 105 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country due to the alerts for being a threat against public order, national safety, public health or international relations.
At the same time, during the border control, 182.290 Schengen or national alerts were detected; 2.824 persons were handed over to the competent authorities, Romanian or foreign citizens who were general wanted persons.
- In the field of illegal migration, the border guards detected 846 foreign citizens in the competence area trying to cross illegally the border, out of which 2.840 persons on the entry way and 3.006 persons on the exit way, most of them acted illegally at the border organized in migrant groups, with the support of smugglers.
- 738 migrant groups and 239 facilitators/carriers, Romanian and foreign citizens, involved in supporting the migrants to cross illegally the border were detected;
- 4706 persons were detected acting illegally at the green border, 683 migrants attempted to cross illegally the border hidden in transportation means, and the other 457 persons were detected attempting to cross illegally the border using other methods (false travel documents and visas, person substitution, eluding the border control etc.)
- 600 persons applied for asylum within the border police structures, being handed over to the representatives of the General Inspectorate for Immigration in order to undertake the legal measures.
Also, during the analyzed period, the border guards intervened in more than 1.000 cases in order to prevent the illegal entry of the migrants at the Romanian-Serbian border.
As regards the nationality of the detected persons while attempting to cross illegally the border, it was ascertained that most of the citizens originate from the following countries: Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Kosovo, India, Albania and Bangladesh.
2017 was a challenge as regards illegal migration; the Romanian Border Police undertook firm measures in all the competence areas in order to detect and detain the persons not observing the state border regime, thus the aim was to increase the safety degree at the Romanian borders.
As a result of the analyses carried out at the level of the institution, it was established that Romania will continue to be a transit country for illegal migrants, on their way to the Western European states.
Even if the statistical indicators show an increase of the number of migrants in comparison to 2016 (when 1.624 foreign citizens attempted to cross illegally the border), Romania, in comparison to the borders of other EU states, did not meet a massive flow of persons attempting to cross illegally the border; this situation was managed efficiently and is carefully monitored.
Hence, to manage efficiently the phenomenon, measures were disposed progressively to increase the operational capacity in the operational area, consisting in:
- Enhancement of border surveillance through efficient equipment to cover the responsibility areas, especially in the risk areas identified at the level of border police sectors;
- Consolidation of state border surveillance through the development of joint actions with other institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Police, Gendarmerie, General Inspectorate for Aviation). Inter-institutional cooperation actions carried out in various areas in the competence of Romanian Border Police situated at the Southern and South-Western border;
- Full capacity use of day/night surveillance devices and supplementing of the technical mobility and surveillance means in order to increase the operational capacity at the border – mobile surveillance equipment, hand-held thermo-vision equipment, thermo-vision surveillance vehicles and land mobility means;
- Increase the number of personnel within the central and territorial operational structures to act progressively in the border area.
Measures to strengthen the state border surveillance were undertaken also at the Black Sea. Romanian Border Police through the Coast Guard has the necessary naval capacities and endowments to ensure patrolling at sea and to manage SAR (search and rescue) activities.
If at the border with Serbia the migration pressure was relatively invariable during 2017, in the second part of 2017 the Black Sea route was tested. So, at the Black Sea there were 6 cases, in which 537 migrants from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Syria and Afghanistan, men, women and children tried to reach illegally Romania, from Turkey, with the support of six boats.
The interventions were difficult for the border guards within the Coast Guard, considering that the persons at sea were at distress due to the overcrowded boats and adverse weather conditions. In all cases, SAR actions were launched and ended up with safe bringing to the shore, in the Romanian ports, where specific procedures were followed (healthcare, identification, registration, fingerprinting etc.). Also, investigations under the coordination of prosecutors were realized and onboard of the boats, besides the migrants, there were identified 12 migrant smugglers (Turkish citizens, a Bulgarian, a Syrian, an Iraqi and a Cypriot citizen); they were brought before Court and currently they are remanded in custody.
SIGNIFICANT CASES
47 foreign citizens, stopped at the border with Serbia
During 14-15 April 2017, the border guards within Territorial Inspectorate of Border Police Timişoara, in cooperation with I.J.J. Timiș and Gendarmerie Team, detected in the border area Caraș-Severin and Timiș counties, several groups made up of 47 citizens from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq and Iran, who attempted to enter illegally Romania with the aim to reach western Europe.
The border guards carried out investigations for committing fraudulent crossing of the state border, and at the same time, the Serbian authorities were informed on the implementation of readmission agreement.
111 persons intending to exit illegally Romania, hidden inside a freight vehicle
On 21.04.2017, the border guards within Border Crossing Point Nădlac II - Csanadpalota detected 111 persons from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, asylum seekers in Romania, who attempted to exit illegally Romania, hidden inside a freight vehicle driven by a Romanian national. The border guards drew up criminal proceedings for committing attempt of illegal crossing of the state border and the Romanian driver was investigated for aiding and abetting an attempt of illegal border crossing.
16 Iraqi nationals, stopped at the border with Bulgaria
On 15.05.2017, acting based on information from a border guard who was in his free time, the border guards within Border Police Sector Negru Vodă detected near the border 16 Iraqi nationals attempting to enter illegally Romania from Republic of Bulgaria on foot at the green border.
The Iraqi nationals stated that they were taken near the border by a vehicle by two unknown Bulgarian nationals for the amount of 500 EUR/person.
In this case, the border guards carried out investigations for committing illegal entry in the country and the Iraqi nationals were handed over to the Bulgarian authorities based on the Romanian-Bulgarian protocol.
Three persons, investigated for facilitating 154 migrants on the Black Sea
On 12.09.2017, the border guards within the Coast Guard detected in the Black Sea a ship which had onboard 150 persons, at approximately 32 nautical miles eastern Midia, forwarding towards the Romanian territorial waters.
The boat which was adrift and sent SOS messages through the radio system, the weather conditions were adverse (strong wind, very rough sea), so that the vessels of the Romanian Border Police together with a civil vessel from an oil platform situated nearby acted according to the international procedures, by launching a SAR operation to grant support and assistance to the boat; finally, it was towed and escorted to Midia Port.
During the hearings, the border guards established that 154 Iraqi and Iranian nationals (56 children and 98 adults) were onboard and they intended to reach illegally our country.
Also, 3 facilitators (an Iraqi, an Iranian and a Turkish national) were identified and investigated for committing people smuggling, illegal border crossing, sailing a ship without license or adequate capacity certificate and maneuvering the ship without skeleton crew and they were brought before Court with the proposal to remand in custody.
In the field of prevention and smuggling with goods
- 53 economic-financial crimes and 1.211 crimes related to smuggling and customs fraud were ascertained, the value of the confiscated goods was 5 million lei. 253 persons holding smuggled goods were detected while crossing or attempting to cross illegally the border.
- 9 million packets of cigarettes amounting to approximately 47 million lei and more than 8.500 kg of tobacco were confiscated and 38 organized groups (163 persons involved) committing cigarette smuggling were identified and dismantled.
SIGNIFICANT CASES
Cigarette smuggling network with international branches, was dismantled by the border guards
One of the significant cases recorded in 2017 – which envisaged the dismantlement of a network dealing with cigarette smuggling with international branches – was investigated by the officers of Directorate for Countering Illegal Migration and Cross-border Crime within the General Inspectorate and employees of Coast Guard, under the coordination of a prosecutor within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Court of Appeal Constanța.
In order to dismantle the criminal group, we collaborated with the European Anti-Fraud Office, SELEC, representatives of Spanish, Bulgarian and British authorities, 38 house searches in Romania and 51 in Spain were carried out.
Packets of cigarettes amounting to approximately 1 million EUR were confiscated and 30 persons (members of criminal network) from Romania, Bulgaria and Spain were taken into custody.
Approximately 8 tons of bulk tobacco, detected at BCP Bechet
On 30.11.2017, the border guards within TIBP Giurgiu - BCP Bechet detected approximately 8 tons of shredded tobacco in a freight vehicle driven by a Polish national, hidden in a truck loaded with detergent (using “lid” method).
During the check, the driver could not present the supporting documents for the tobacco and stated that he was not aware of the existence of the tobacco inside the truck.
The entire quantity of bulk tobacco, respectively 7.920 kg, was taken for expertise by the customs employees, and the border guards are carrying out investigations for committing introducing or removing from the country through posts established for Customs control of the goods or freight placed for customs procedures and the use of false documents at the Customs authority, and after the investigations the legal measures will be undertaken.
More than 240.000 cigarette packets, hidden in a TIR through “lid” method
On 25 September 2017, after a police dog specialized in tobacco detection checked the trailer of a TIR, the border guards and the customs employees within BCP Halmeu – Satu-Mare County carried out a control on the transportation mean.
Thus, they detected approximately 249.000 (498 masters cases) of cigarette packets originating from Ukraine, hidden in a freight vehicle in which two Romanian nationals were travelling and which was transporting shredded wood from Ukraine to Romania.
The investigations in this case are carried on under the coordination of the prosecutor within DIICOT – Territorial Office Maramureș, and after their finalization the legal measures will be undertaken.
Approximately 250.000 smuggled cigarette packets, detected by the border guards onboard of a ship
On 20.09.2017, as a result of the information delivered by European Anti-Fraud Office, the border guards within Coast Guard identified “RAMONA” ship at approximately 14 nautical miles east Shabla, under Slovenian flag, which they supervised until the entry in Mangalia Port.
The crew consisted of four men, three Ukrainian nationals and a Moldavian national, aged between 37 and 53.
As a result of the control carried out on the yacht, 250.000 cigarette packets Toros 2005 were detected, with Duty Free origin.
The full quantity of cigarettes was confiscated for investigations, and the border guards carry out investigations for committing smuggling, provided for by Article 270, parag. 3 in conjunction with Article 274 of Law 86/2006 on the Romanian Customs Code.
The investigations are carried on under the coordination of the prosecutor within the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Court of Appeal Constanţa.
- Other confiscated goods:
- 28.663 liters of alcohol;
- 8.8 kg gold and silver jewelry;
- 914.000 EUR and USD
- 88.5 kg amber
SIGNIFICANT CASES
More than 88 kilos of amber, hidden in a utility vehicle
On 5 December 2017, the border guards within BCP Petea detected two men with Romanian-Ukrainian nationality, who tried to remove from the country more than 88 kg of amber, hidden in the utility vehicle.
A criminal file was drawn up for committing smuggling, a deed provided for by Article 270, letter a, parag. 2 of Law 86/2006 on the Romanian Customs Code, and the full quantity of amber amounting to 89.000 lei was confiscated for investigation purposes.
182.000 dollars which were not declared and hidden in the glove compartment of a Bulgarian national vehicle
In July 2017, the border guards detected in the BCP Giurgiu a Bulgarian national of Vietnamese origins attempted to remove from the country the amount of 182.000 USD. The money was hidden in the glove compartment and due to the fact that the man did not hold documents justifying the provenience of the money, the border guards confiscated the money up until the finalization of the investigations.
The border guards carried out investigations for committing “totally or partial omission in the accounting documents or in other legal documents of the commercial operations or realized incomes” and “obtaining, holding or using goods, knowing that their origin result from crimes”, provided for by Article 9, parag. 1, letter B of Law 241/2005, in conjunction with Article 29, parag. 1, letter c of Law 656/2002.
- In the field of intellectual property right, 182 criminal deeds were ascertained, being detected smuggled goods having protected trademarks, such as:
- 71.400 pieces of clothing and lingerie;
- 18.360 cosmetics and perfumery;
- 6.990 pairs of footwear;
- 1.224.070 other products (electronics, electrical, toys, phone accessories etc.)
- Other detections recorded in 2017:
- 151 vehicles suspected of being stolen;
- 99 weapons, most of them nonlethal, 087 cartridges (most of them were hunting weapons) and more than 684 kg of pyrotechnic materials and 210.000 firecrackers (fireworks, firecrackers etc.);
- 19 kg cannabis, 1.67 kg cocaine, 17 grams hashish, 29.603 ampoules and 0.92 kg anabolic substances, 161 kg of other drugs, 4.2 kg of other forbidden substances and 11.620 pharmaceutical products.
SIGNIFICANT CASE
Two Brazilian nationals detected in Otopeni airport with approximately two kilos of cocaine ingested
On 10.11.2017, two Brazilian nationals who attempted to introduce approximately two kilos of drugs ingested were detected within the premises of Henri Coandă – Otopeni airport by the border guards and the Customs employees.
The substance was detected as a result of a control carried out with an X-ray scanner belonging to the Romanian Border Police - Henry Coandă International Airport, and as a result of the laboratory analysis the substance reacted positively as cocaine.
For the two Brazilian nationals criminal files were drawn up for committing trafficking in high risk drugs and international trafficking in high risk drugs, and Bucharest Court admitted the proposal of remand in custody for 30 days.
- In the field of countering and prevention of fish poaching, 727 crimes related to fish poaching were ascertained, 590 sanctions amounting to 050 lei were applied and confiscated: 99 crafts, 60 boat engines, monofilament nets (total length 38.087 m), 875 fishing tools, 9.772 kg fish, 15.3 kg of roe.
SIGNIFICANT CASE
Ukrainian craft detected while poaching in the Black Sea by the vessel of Border Police MAI 2110
On 15.04.2017, the vessel MAI 2110 within Naval Group Sulina identified with the support of thermo-vision device, at approximately 40 nautical miles perpendicular to Sfântu Gheorghe locality, a Ukrainian ship suspected of illegal fishing activities in the Exclusive Economic Area of Romania.
Onboard of ship, 16 fishing nets (total length of 1.536 meters) and 447 kg of fresh turbot amounting to 17.687 lei, which was subsequently handed over to a fishery, were detected and confiscated.
Investigations are carried out for committing commercial or sport fisheries without a license or authorization; production, import, holding, trading or use of monofilament nets; commercial fishery in natural fish habitats, through any methods and means, during the prohibition period, fishing of living aquatic resources with fishing tools with mesh size below the legal minimum sizes.
- INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:
In 2017, the Romanian Border Police participated in 13 joint operations and a pilot project organized under FRONTEX aegis and deployed the following:
- 370 border guards
- 4 vessels
- 3 thermo-vision vehicles
- 6 K9 teams
- 27 patrol vehicles
- 46 work/duty vehicles
Last year, the border guards onboard the RBP vessels had an important contribution in the missions carried out in the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea, rescuing more than 1.800 persons onboard of overcrowded crafts, in danger of sinking.
The action mode of the Romanian border guards is constantly appreciated by the European colleagues, FRONTEX experts on the occasion of participation in joint operations carried out on the Romanian territory or in other states. At the same time, through the professionalism and commitment proven in these actions, Frontex management appreciated Romania, in various occasions, as a landmark, an active partner involved in the security of the European borders.
During 2017, cooperation plans were concluded and implemented with the similar structures from Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, as well as with EU members states, being developed specific activities according to the provisions in which 545 representatives of RBP participated.
The collaboration with the neighbouring states was emphasized; the head of the RBP had bilateral meetings with all the leaders of the border institutions in the neighbouring states. The enhancement of information exchange, disposition of joint measures for countering cross-border crime and ensuring a high level of surveillance and control of the state border was aimed.
In 2017, the Romanian Border Police took over the presidency of the Black Sea Cooperation Forum; at the meeting organized with the leaders of the border institutions of the littoral states new cooperation forms were established aimed to manage jointly the criminal phenomena specific to the maritime area, as well as an exchange of experience and personnel on the occasion of missions carried out onboard of vessels.
Also, RBP participated in the activities of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum, as well as in the joint exercise meant for member states training for the implementation of integrated maritime policy and enhancement of cooperation among the institutions.
In 2017, the General Inspectorate of Border Police hosted several visits of the European officials, such as EU commissary for the security of the European Union, the ambassador of the Netherlands in Bucharest and the ambassador of Germany in Bucharest. On these occasions, the conclusion on Schengen evaluation reports mentioning that the Romanian Border Police ensures a high level of surveillance and control of the European borders was reiterated.
With the aim to support the actions related to prevention and countering of illegal migration, trafficking of stolen vehicles, smuggling or any other criminal deed, the collaboration through the seven contact points/centers/offices situated in strategic points of the country, within which Romanian border guards develop their activity together with deployed officers from other European states was enhanced. Thus, in 2017, more than 21.000 inter-institutional requests for assistance were recorded.
- USE OF RESOURCES
Personnel dynamic: - approximately 88% employed personnel
- more than 82% of the personnel carry out their activity in the operational field and 18% within the support structures
Like all the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, RBP faced an increase of the personnel deficit at the level of all structures as a result of the retirements. Thus, in 2017, 821 employees got retired, RBP managed to cover the deficit of personnel necessary to carry out the surveillance and control activity, by disposing certain measures to ensure the optimum functionality.
In this context, the necessary steps were carried out for the employment of vacancies, both with graduates of Border Police education units/other units providing the necessary specialization for RBP, and by employment from external recruitment.
Also, the number of spots for schooling has been supplemented for the 2017-2018 school year, thusly, on the 2017 admission session, at the “Avram Iancu” School for training Border Police Agents in Oradea, 280 spots were allotted, compared to the 150 that were initially planned.
Professional training: - 1.300 border guards participated in the courses organized by the education schools of RBP, MAI or national specialized institutions;
- 680 border guards participated in training courses organized under FRONTEX, CEPOL, OSCE, ILEA, MARSHALL etc. aegis
Rewarding/sanctioning of personnel: - 1.063 rewarded border guards;
- 160 border guards were sanctioned disciplinary
As a result of the implemented measures in the file of prevention and countering corruption deeds, in 2017, 94 cases of resistance to corruption (self-reporting) were recorded, and the territorial structures of Anti-corruption Directorate were immediately informed.
Material resources:
The technical component of the Integrated Border Security System is comprised of its support subsystems, thusly: control, surveillance, fixed voice and data communication, professional mobile radio communication, information technology, infrastructure, mobility and integrated logistic support.
This allowed the Romanian Border Police to use all the available resources in a coordinate and unitary way, which is very efficient and important for the insurance of border security. The voice-data communication systems and the IT system of RBP were updated, the maintenance and updating of surveillance systems and equipment was ensured, and respectively rehabilitation works for several headquarters of RBP structures were carried out.
The current level of endowment ensures the support of operational missions specific to the Romanian Border Police, the endowment percentage of mobility and surveillance means is between 45 and 80%.
Taking into account the exploitation age, a degree of aging of over 60% is observed in all categories of technical equipment, which on the one hand increases the risk of having technical and operational performances be outdated and on the other hand it increases the costs for maintaining them functional.
Financial resources:
- Budgetary funds: - the budget execution was 99.94% and it was followed the observance of financial discipline, insurance of adequate finance of border surveillance and control activities and of financial-logistic activities of RBP structures, insurance of financial balance between subordinated tertiary authorizing officers and framing the expenses within the limits of approved credits.
As regards the way of managing the financial resources, they were used for granting the financial rights of the personnel and for the purchase of material assets necessary for the institution, payment of utilities, fuels etc.
Within the control activities carried out by the representatives of Court of Auditors, there were no irregularities or infringements.
- Non-reimbursable financial funds: Romanian Border Police, by specialized structures, managed financed projects from INTERNAL SECURITY FUNDS, as well as projects financed from other types of European funds (programmes, mechanisms, and non-reimbursable financial instruments) for which the financers are: European Commission, other bodies and national and international institutions.
Programmes carried out from internal security fund – within the national programme related to the Internal Security Fund, the General Inspectorate of Border Police elaborated and obtained the approval of 9 detailed project sheets amounting to 9.345.700 EUR and 11 financing contracts were signed amounting to 11.691.700 EUR; a priority were the activities envisaging the operational status of the surveillance systems, equipment, IT and communication systems, purchase of equipment for document check and the purchase of surveillance vehicles.
On 01.12.2017 the national programme related to the Internal Security Fund, Borders and Visas 2014-2020 component, by supplementing the funds with 18.500.000 EUR for the Specific Action for Frontex equipment for the purchase of 3 intervention cutters and 1 patrol vessel, which can be deployed within FRONTEX joint actions.
Projects financed from grants of the Commission, research-development programmes, structural funds and cross-border cooperation programmes – General Inspectorate of Romanian Border Police participate in Consortiums, as beneficiary, partner or applicant in 14 projects amounting to 1.756.000 euro.
- PRIORITIES FOR 2018
For 2018, Romanian Border Police proposes to implement the measures envisaging the border field included in the national strategies, as well as the community legal acts, as follows:
- Ensuring and maintaining a high level of surveillance and control at the border and in the free movement area, including through the introduction and use of modern technologies, at the level of European standards depending on the operational necessities;
- Permanent monitoring and evaluation of the action mode on the state border control, complying with the provisions of Schengen aquis, as well as the implementation of European experts’ recommendations;
- Supporting and promoting major European strategic projects as regards external border management and migration, respectively the elaboration of efficient policies in these fields;
- Carrying out the necessary activities for the maximum absorption of non-reimbursable community funds meant for EU external border security;
- Maintaining and developing collaboration/cooperation relations, both internally and internationally with the authorities with duties in the border management and with the similar structures from the other EU Member states, neighbouring countries and third countries;
- Ensuring the human, material and logistics resources necessary for the implementation of the integrated border management;
- Development of professional competences as well as the maintenance of the high level of training of own staff, for the correct implementation of the national and community law;
- Ensuring the institutional transparency and openness towards the citizen observing the law in force;
- Development of the National Passenger Information Unit.
