Ukraine plans to create nine more checkpoints on border with EU

Ukraine plans to create nine more checkpoints on the border with the countries that are part of the European Union, as well as to introduce joint customs and border control, announced Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

"Development of border infrastructure. In particular, the network of automobile checkpoints. Currently, 21 of them are functioning on the border with the EU. Three of them were opened during a full-scale war. There are plans to create nine more checkpoints and modernize 13," Shmyhal said at the government meeting on Tuesday.

According to him, most of the works are planned to be carried out on the border with Poland. There is an agreement that Ukraine will receive EUR 160 million in soft loans from Polish partners for the renewal of roads, checkpoints, and the purchase of scanners.

In addition, last week they agreed with Romania to jointly develop access roads and railway infrastructure, to move towards simplification of border control.

Shmyhal emphasized that the Romanian direction is key for Ukrainian exports. There are agreements with the Romanian side on the transshipment of Ukrainian products in the sea and river ports of Romania and on cooperation in the Danube ports.

Ukraine is implementing a pilot project on the launch of single checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

"That is, there will be one checkpoint where representatives of both states will work. This will achieve greater integration into the European space, speed up logistics, and minimize corruption," the head of government explained.

Ukraine made a similar offer to Romania, Shmyhal added.

On August 17, Ukraine and Romania agreed to build a new checkpoint worth UAH 1.6 billion ($43.3 million).