Ukraine offered Slovakia an agreement on joint border control

Ukraine expects to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Slovakia in the near future on joint control at border checkpoints. This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal following his first conversation with the new head of the Slovak government, Robert Fico, on December 4.

«We touched on the situation on the border. It was noted that the passage of priority cargo is carried out without hindrance. We expect to conclude an intergovernmental agreement on control at joint checkpoints in the near future,» said Denys Shmyhal.

In addition, the parties outlined the priority areas of bilateral cooperation: development of border infrastructure, energy and restoration of Ukraine.

«I voiced the need for engineering equipment for humanitarian demining, which is produced by Slovak companies. We count on the participation of Slovak companies in various spheres of recovery of Ukraine», – wrote the head of the Ukrainian government.

On the evening of December 4, the blockade of the Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Slovak border was suspended, according to Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine Serhiy Derkach. He noted that the Ukrainian side continues to work with Slovak colleagues to prevent further protests. Derkach also added that the European Commission does not plan to amend the current Agreement on the Liberalization of Freight Transport, but expresses its readiness to defend the transport visa-free regime.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Ukraine has become a full-fledged participant in the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program – on November 21, the Parliament ratified the relevant agreement. Its implementation will help improve Ukraine’s transport links with the EU and establish exports to Europe as a whole. The program will also allow Ukraine to attract EU funding to support the development of trans-European transport, energy, and digital services networks.