MEPs Karl von Wogau (EPP-ED, Germany), chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence in the EP, and Ioan Mircea Pascu (PES, Romania), vice-chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, were members of the EP delegation visiting Ukraine and Moldova.

At the end of this visit, how do you gauge the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM)?

Ioan Mircea Pascu: EUBAM has a very useful role, with concrete results. The transfer of expertise, observation and ongoing bilateral activity, negotiations between the two parties in the presence of EUBAM, with a high level of professionalism, helps Ukraine and Moldova to progress in a sensitive and important field for their relations. Inevitably, EUBAM assures in some way an EU presence in these two countries, in the field.

Karl von Wogau: It is a success. It is useful to manage this strange situation with Transnistria. It is also useful for the European Union. We are developing a common border management philosophy everywhere in Europe. In exchange for the opening of our internal borders, it seems indispensable to me to raise the standards of control at our neighbours’ borders. EUBAM embodies, in some way, the Union’s best practices which have been developed and then applied.

Should the mission be extended? What lessons have been learnt for the future?

Ioan Mircea Pascu: In a more general framework, I think that such missions, principally technical in nature, can play, like EUBAM has, an important role in making good use of the EU’s professional authority, and indirectly by stabilising our immediate neighbours. EUBAM is playing an irreplaceable and pioneering stabilising role. The mission must continue.

Karl von Wogau: Even if at a certain moment we will have to acknowledge that it is up to the countries concerned to take on their responsibilities, for me it is still too early to make this decision and end the mission. We have to continue. What must be reinforced now is the joint border management. Ultimately, a single border post is needed, with customs and border police from the two countries working in the same place, and a single control for vehicles.

How can the question of Transnistria be resolved?

Ioan Mircea Pascu:It is a complicated question in which NATO, the USA and Russia have an important role to play. It is not only a technical question but a highly political one. For me, the European Union has a marginal role to play, at least at this level.

Karl von Wogau:It is a solution to be resolved in a broader context. For my part, I observe that most of our security issues are points where the Russians are part of the solution, whether this is frozen conflicts of the Sub-Caucasus or Transnistria, Kosovo or missiles. It therefore seems difficult to find a solution on a case-by-case basis for each of these disputes. Therefore there is no need to be afraid of bringing up these issues with the Russians, in the framework of a global strategy. It is, for me, a question generally connected to the need to respect our alliances. Russia remains a global player and Europe must learn to be a global player.