Methodological Approaches to Organising Border Control at the Ukrainian Moldovan Border in Accordance with EU Standards
Abstract
Purpose. To substantiate the methodological foundations for organizing border control along the Ukrainian–Moldovan section of the state border in accordance with European Union standards and to assess the current state of their practical implementation.
Method. The study employed systemic, comparative legal, formal legal, and functional-structural methods, content analysis of regulatory and scientific sources, and a structured survey of 28 officers of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The results were processed using mean values, frequencies, descriptive ranking, and 95% Wilson confidence intervals.
Results. Ten interrelated methodological approaches were systematized. The lowest scores were recorded for the monitoring and evaluation (2.6), human resources and competency-based (2.8), and information and analytical (2.9) approaches; these were identified as problematic by 75.0 %, 71.4 %, and 67.9 % of respondents, respectively.
Theoretical Implications. A comprehensive set of methodological approaches to organizing border control in accordance with the concept of European Integrated Border Management was refined and systematized.
Practical Implications. Priority areas for improving monitoring, personnel training, information exchange, infrastructure, and joint control were identified.
Originality/value. A comprehensive interconnected model for organizing border control, adapted to the specific characteristics of the Ukrainian–Moldovan section of the state border, was proposed.
Limitations/future research. The study is limited by a purposive sample of 28 officers from three border crossing points. Future research should expand the sample, conduct comparisons between border crossing points, and test quantitative performance indicators.
Article type. Research article; empirical and analytical study.
Downloads
References
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (2009). Pro prykordonnyi kontrol: Zakon Ukrainy vid 05.11.2009 No. 1710-VI [On border control: Law of Ukraine of November 5, 2009 No. 1710-VI]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/1710-17 [in Ukrainian].
Androshchuk, O. S., & Hrinchenko, V. V. (2021). Rozrobka analitychnoho metodu analizu efektyvnosti okhorony derzhavnoho kordonu iz zastosuvanniam ymovirnisno-statystychnoho pidkhodu [Development of an analytical method for analysing the effectiveness of state border protection using a probabilistic-statistical approach]. Systemy obrobky informatsii, 1(164), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.30748/soi.2021.164.01 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Hula, V. V., & Bachynska, D. (2025). Osoblyvosti orhanizatsii prykordonnoho kontroliu na derzhavnomu kordoni Ukrainy z Respublikoiu Moldova v umovakh yevrointehratsii [Peculiarities of organising border control at the state border of Ukraine with the Republic of Moldova in the context of European integration]. Natsionalni interesy Ukrainy, 10(15), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.52058/3041-1793-2025-10(15)-63-73 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Hula, V. V., Samoilenko, O. O., & Lysenko, Zh. M. (2025). Adaptatsiia administratyvnoho zakonodavstva Ukrainy do standartiv YeS u sferi prykordonnoho kontroliu: Vyklyky ta perspektyvy [Adaptation of Ukrainian administrative legislation to EU standards in the field of border control: Challenges and prospects]. Natsionalni interesy Ukrainy, 10(15), 74–86. https://doi.org/10.52058/3041-1793-2025-10(15)-74-86 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2010). Pro zatverdzhennia Polozhennia pro punkty propusku cherez derzhavnyi kordon ta punkty kontroliu: Postanova vid 18.08.2010 No. 751 [On approval of the Regulation on state border crossing points and control points]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/751-2010-%D0%BF [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2019). Pro skhvalennia Stratehii intehrovanoho upravlinnia kordonamy na period do 2025 roku: Rozporiadzhennia vid 24.07.2019 No. 687-r [On approval of the Integrated Border Management Strategy for the period up to 2025]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/687-2019-%D1%80 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. (2023). Pro zatverdzhennia planu zakhodiv na 2023–2025 roky shchodo realizatsii Stratehii intehrovanoho upravlinnia kordonamy na period do 2025 roku: Rozporiadzhennia vid 27.12.2023 No. 1212-r [On approval of the action plan for 2023–2025 for implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/1212-2023-%D1%80 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Lutskyi, O. L., Bilovskyi, O. S., Bratko, A. V., Burbela, S. V., & Mysyk, A. B. (2022). Otsiniuvannia efektyvnosti operatyvno-sluzhbovoi diialnosti orhaniv okhorony derzhavnoho kordonu [Evaluation of the effectiveness of operational and service activities of state border protection bodies]. Sciences of Europe, 86(2), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.24412/3162-2364-2022-86-2-37-44 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Czech Republic. The journal identifies itself as published in Prague, Czech Republic.
Mykhailenko, O. V., & Palamarchuk, Yu. S. (2025). Metodyka roboty nachalnyka prykordonnoi zastavy shchodo upravlinnia operatyvno-sluzhbovoiu diialnistiu v umovakh pravovoho rezhymu voiennoho stanu [Methods of a border post commander for managing operational and service activities under martial law]. Zbirnyk naukovykh prats Natsionalnoi akademii Derzhavnoi prykordonnoi sluzhby Ukrainy. Seriia: Viiskovi ta tekhnichni nauky, 1(98), 46–56. https://doi.org/10.32453/3.v98i1.1771 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Nikiforenko, V. S. (2020). Orhanizatsiini ta pravovi zasady vyiavlennia potentsiinykh zahroz natsionalnii (prykordonnii) bezpetsi na osnovi obrobky poperednikh danykh reiestratsii osoby [Organisational and legal principles for identifying potential threats to national (border) security based on the processing of advance registration data]. Vcheni zapysky TNU imeni V. I. Vernadskoho. Seriia: Yurydychni nauky, 31(70), 5, 64–69. https://doi.org/10.32838/TNU-2707-0581/2020.5/12 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Razdorozhna, S. V. (2018). Spilnyi mytnyi kontrol na kordoni mizh Ukrainoiu i Respublikoiu Moldova [Joint customs control at the border between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova]. Lex Portus, 2(10), 180–189. http://hdl.handle.net/11300/9792 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine. Lex Portus is published in Odesa, Ukraine.
Samoilenko, O. O., Sychevskyi, Yu. O., & Kostian, Ya. M. (2025). Stvorennia elektronnoi cherhy v punktakh propusku cherez derzhavnyi kordon Ukrainy v konteksti yevrointehratsii [Creation of an electronic queue at checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine in the context of European integration]. Natsionalni interesy Ukrainy, 7(12), 247–259. https://doi.org/10.52058/3041-1793-2025-7(12)-247-259 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Government of Ukraine, & Government of the Republic of Moldova. (1997). Uhoda pro orhanizatsiiu spilnoho kontroliu v punktakh propusku cherez ukrainsko-moldovskyi derzhavnyi kordon [Agreement on the organisation of joint control at checkpoints across the Ukrainian-Moldovan state border]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/498_031 [in Ukrainian]. Countries: Ukraine / Republic of Moldova.
Farion, O. V., & Hula, V. V. (2025). Analiz rezultativ prykordonnoho kontroliu u punktakh propusku cherez derzhavnyi kordon Ukrainy z Respublikoiu Moldova v konteksti realizatsii zakhodiv yevrointehratsiinykh protsesiv [Analysis of border control results at checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine with the Republic of Moldova in the context of European integration processes]. Zbirnyk naukovykh prats Natsionalnoi akademii Derzhavnoi prykordonnoi sluzhby Ukrainy. Seriia: Viiskovi ta tekhnichni nauky, 99(2), 84–96. https://doi.org/10.32453/3.v99i2.1885 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
Chornyi, A. (2023). Analiz uprovadzhennia protsedur i standartiv Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu pid chas zdiisnennia prykordonnoho kontroliu v punktakh propusku cherez derzhavnyi kordon Ukrainy (2003–2022 rr.) [Analysis of the implementation of European Union procedures and standards during border control at checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine, 2003–2022]. Zbirnyk naukovykh prats Natsionalnoi akademii Derzhavnoi prykordonnoi sluzhby Ukrainy. Seriia: Viiskovi ta tekhnichni nauky, 2(91), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.32453/3.v91i2.1384 [in Ukrainian]. Country: Ukraine.
European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine. (n.d.). Who we are? https://eubam.org/who-we-are/ Region/source: European Union / Ukraine / Republic of Moldova.
European Commission. (2018). Action document for Eastern Partnership Integrated Border Management Flagship Initiative. Source: European Union.
Frontex. (2017). Common core curriculum: For border and coast guard basic training in the EU. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2819/829367 Source: European Union; publication place: Luxembourg.
European Parliament, & Council of the European Union. (2016). Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code). Official Journal of the European Union, L 77, 1–52. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/399/oj Source: European Union.
European Parliament, & Council of the European Union. (2019). Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No. 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624. Official Journal of the European Union, L 295, 1–131. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1896/oj Source: European Union.
European Commission. (2023). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council establishing the multiannual strategic policy for European integrated border management (COM(2023) 146 final). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0146 Source: European Union.
European Parliament, & Council of the European Union. (2019). Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of 20 May 2019 on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa. Official Journal of the European Union, L 135, 27–84. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/817/oj Source: European Union.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2020). Border controls and fundamental rights at external land borders: Practical guidance. Publications Office of the European Union. https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/border-controls-and-fundamental-rights-external-land-borders Source: European Union; publication place: Luxembourg.
Frontex. (2024). Technical and operational strategy for European integrated border management 2023–2027. European Border and Coast Guard Agency. https://www.frontex.europa.eu/publications/?c=training Source: European Union; institutional location: Poland.
Wagner, J. (2021). The European Union’s model of Integrated Border Management: Preventing transnational threats, cross-border crime and irregular migration in the context of the EU’s security policies and strategies. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 59(4), 424–448. https://doi.org/10.1080/14662043.2021.1999650 Country of publication: United Kingdom. The journal is published by Taylor & Francis/Routledge, registered in England and Wales.
Paul, R. (2017). Harmonisation by risk analysis? Frontex and the risk-based governance of European border control. Journal of European Integration, 39(6), 689–706. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2017.1320553 Country of publication: United Kingdom. The journal is published by Taylor & Francis/Routledge in London.
Abstract views: 14 PDF Downloads: 11
Copyright (c) 2026 Віталій Гула, Юрій Мовчан, Степан Кецмур

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.





