By KYIV. Nov 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The delegations of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland are discussing a draft intergovernmental agreement on the joint control of persons, vehicles and goods at joint checkpoints.
According to a message from the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on Facebook on Wednesday, the introduction of joint customs and border control will simplify and speed up border crossing for international carriers and individuals. After the signing of the agreement, Ukraine will become a country that is not part of the European Union, but has similar checkpoints with an EU member state.
The draft agreement should define the procedures and rules for operation of joint checkpoints, the exchange of information between control services, combating illegal migration, conducting joint patrols, as well as the possibility for the control services of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland to delegate (transfer) to each other the performance of their official powers and functions.
"Today, the first round of negotiations between the parties began, which will last two days and end with the development of the basic version of the document," the Ministry of Infrastructure stressed.
According to the ministry, the total trade turnover between Ukraine and Poland over ten months of 2022 amounted to more than $10.035 billion, while for the entire last year it was almost $10.207 billion.
"The growth in the volume of trade turnover with the EU countries has been observed since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The liberalization of the conditions for international transportation has contributed to the revival of trade relations with the EU," the Ministry of Infrastructure noted.
The proposal to introduce joint control on the Ukrainian-Polish border was made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv with President of Poland Andrzej Duda.
