The head of the EU Border Assistance Mission, Hungarian Police Major-General Ferenc Bánfi has, in the past, occupied many posts in the projects and agencies for the reinforcement of international law, particularly the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) after climbing the ranks of the Hungarian police (where he started as a sergeant).

What are the main challenges of your mission?

It is a question of contributing in building capacity for action, of changing institutional culture and the mentality within the services. Which is not always evident. Sometimes the channels are too centralised. A changeover was needed from a military format to a civil service.

How do you see the situation developing?

A new generation has grown up on each side of the ‘border’, which has never known anything else but Transnistria on one side, or has always known Moldova without Transnistria on the other. That could ultimately lead to a new climate and a new situation. Time pressure is therefore not in our favour. After 20-30 years of this situation, it will be difficult to go backwards, to reunify the two parties. We have to act now. In 2009, the political landscape could change. And Moscow, which has recognised Moldova’s territorial integrity, no longer really needs the independence of Transnistria.

What can Europeans do?

We can’t click our fingers and make Moldova perfect in a fortnight. But it is possible, little by little, to make it more democratic, to reinforce its structures. In this way, the EU can do a lot, particularly by eliminating the differences between the different countries of the region and reintegrating the market. If Chisinau is not attractive, there is no interest for Transnistria to join it.

For you, does the mission play a role?

Yes. It is evident that opposite the soldiers (7,000 in Moldova and at least as many in Transnistria), we do not have the military influence. But, through our mere presence, there is a psychological influence. In some way, we act as a counterbalance to Russia’s presence.

So the EU BAM Mission must not be interrupted?

Yes, it is important. Even if the Transnistrian conflict is not visible and not on the EU’s radar – because there is no blood, no sensation, so interest is low – our mission plays an important role in stabilising the whole region.