The active role of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in the Prague Process was acknowledged during the recent visit of the ICMPD’s Director General Michael Spindelegger and ICMPD’s Regional Coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Radim Zak. The visit to Ukraine took place on 24-25 of January 2019, and saw a set of bilateral meetings with representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Migration Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs featuring discussions on ongoing projects and institutional cooperation.

The mission started with the important signature procedure of a Cooperation Protocol between ICMPD and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Mr Tsygykal, Head of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, expressed his confidence that this act will contribute to strengthening border security and enhance national and regional capacity for addressing migration challenges.

Further, the delegation met with the Chairman of the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS), Mr. Maksym Sokoliuk, representatives of the SMS Administration and of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Apart from the cooperation within the Prague Process, the parties assessed other possible areas of cooperation, including the development of joint measures to address migration processes in Europe, and agreed to continue the exchange of practical experience in the migration area, and to strengthen common legal and contractual frameworks.

The mission concluded with a high-level meeting between ICMPD and Mr. Andriy Zayatz, State Secretary, and Mr. Serhii Saienko, Directorate General for EU and NATO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions included the ongoing and future cooperation between Ukraine and ICMPD and both parties expressed mutual interest in its enhancement.