Moldova, Romania to simplify checks at border crossings along grain corridor from Ukraine

MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - The Moldovan government has approved the signing of an agreement with Romania to introduce joint control at the Giurgiulesti-Galati checkpoint, which is a key automobile border crossing en route from Ukraine to Romanian ports.

"The agreement will facilitate the coordination of border traffic control at the Giurgiulesti-Galati border crossing point. As a result, control procedures will be simplified and waiting times will be reduced. This will improve the cross-border flow of people and goods, enhance border security and strengthen Moldovan-Romanian cooperation, thus stimulating the national economy," Ukrainian media quoted the Moldovan government as saying in a statement.

In February 2023, the Moldovan and Romanian interior ministers signed an intergovernmental agreement on joint control at the Leuseni-Albita border crossing, on the entry side into Romania.

As previously reported, the European Commission provided a grant of 7.8 million euros to Moldova via the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to repair the Giurgiulesti checkpoint's approach road.

In October 2023, the Ukrainian government announced the creation of a new grain corridor via Moldova and Romania. The new transport route runs between Ukraine's Reni border crossing, Moldova's Giurgiulesti and Galati in Romania. Moldova's Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry applied to CEF at the beginning of 2024 to secure funding for repairs of the checkpoint's approach road and for building a road to bypass the Giurgiulesti village, including the construction of a parking lot of trucks.

The Ukrainian authorities said in May 2024 that the Reni crossing on the border with Moldova was ready for joint customs and border control. Ukraine and Moldova officially agreed the completion of this work and the start of joint control on the Ukrainian side of the border.

As reported earlier, the Romanian government is in talks with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to acquire the Giurgiulesti International Free Port in Moldova. The acquisition will be handled by the national company Administracia Porturilor Maritime S.A. Constanta, a commercial entity subordinate to Romania's Transport Ministry.