Press Release of the International Organization for Migration:
"Strengthening the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine's Human Resource Management System"
Kyiv, Ukraine
February 16, 2006
The European Union (EU) today launched a new two-year project to improve the effectiveness of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine by focussing on recruitment and development of professional law enforcement personnel based on European standards. The project, "REINFORCING THE STATE BORDER GUARD SERVICE OF UKRAINE'S HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - HUREMAS", is part of the EU's TACIS National Action Programme for Ukraine. It is co-funded by the United States Department of State. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) are implementing partners, in cooperation with Hungarian and Polish Border Police Services.
The two-year HUREMAS project is funded by the European Commission in the amount of 4,000,000 Euro, and by the U.S. Department of State in the amount of US$425,000.
HUREMAS is designed to support the Government of Ukraine's declared goals of national policy objectives, including European integration and the State Border Guard Service's development concept up to 2015 aiming at transforming the SBGS into a professional law enforcement service as well as to achieve harmonisation with European border control and surveillance standards, by transfer of European best practices and experiences.
HUREMAS' primary objectives, among others, are:
· Identify and initiate legislative changes necessary to make SBGS authorities and procedures in concert with EU norms and standards;
· Develop a modern human resources management system in line with European standards and practices with a particular focus on objective and transparent staff recruitment, staff education and training and staff career development. The EU's Core Curriculum for Border Police Services as well as training strategies and curricula of some EU Member States will serve as a reference;
· Support the SBGS National Academy and the SBGS Training Centres in the implementation of training strategies, plans and curricula;
· Provide relevant technology and equipment for training to the SBGS National Academy and selected training centres.
The project is part of the EU's ongoing support for Ukraine's European integration, to comply with EU norms and standards, as well as to strengthen the capabilities for an improved fight against irregular migration and trans-national crime such as trafficking in persons or drugs, contraband of high-taxed or counterfeit products with a view to secure Ukraine's borders and to facilitate cross-border trade at the same time.
About the IOM Mission in Ukraine - www.iom.org.ua
IOM is the leading international organization working with migrants and governments. This year IOM celebrates its 10th anniversary in Ukraine. Since 1996, IOM's Mission in Ukraine has supported the Government of Ukraine in providing humane responses to migration challenges.