Moldovan and Ukrainian youth receive training in fighting corruption 
Odessa, 21 February 2011 - The international Winter School ‘Youth against Corruption’, an initiative organised jointly by the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (UASBGS) and the Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption of the Republic of Moldova (CCECC), was launched in Odessa today. The week-long training programme will include tutoring for 26 students from Ukraine and Moldova on corruption and methods to mitigate the phenomenon.
The students were warmly welcomed by the Head of EUBAM, Mr Udo Burkholder, the Deputy Head of Odessa State Regional Administration Mr Dmitry Voloshenkov, the Head of the Internal Security Department of UASBGS, Mr Yuriy Oblaukhov, and the Vice-Director of CCECC, Mr George Russu, at today’s opening ceremony.
Outlining the goals of the Winter School, Mr Burkholder said: “Making investments in the young generation is a value per se. By bringing students from different countries and universities together to learn, to discuss common issues and to share different opinions EUBAM wants to facilitate cooperation between academic communities and to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech and an open society.”
The programme of the Winter School allows the students not only to study theoretical aspects of fighting corruption but also to hear the first-hand experiences of anti-corruption practitioners. Young people will study the methods of preventing and fighting corruption in European Union law-enforcement agencies, the role of opinion polls in measuring the level of corruption, and the role of mass media in mitigating corruption. Anti-corruption experts from the UASBGS and Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, CCECC and EUBAM will present real cases to students.
Participants will also learn about the role of ‘ethics codes’ in preventing corruption in public institutions, and take part in a round-table debate on this topic at the National University ‘Odessa Law Academy’. Students will then develop and present an Ethics Code for their universities.
The Winter School is the second such initiative organised by EUBAM; the first anti-corruption school for students took place in Moldova during the summer of 2010.
EUBAM anti-corruption support
EUBAM supports the Moldovan and Ukrainian border services, administrative bodies and other partner organisations within the Mission’s Area of Responsibility in combating corruption.
The Mission is working with the Moldovan and Ukrainian border guard and customs services to establish two ‘islands of integrity’ at border crossing points (BCPs) on the Moldova-Ukraine border. This is to encourage BCP staff to behave courteously and professionally and act in a spirit of public service, with exemplary integrity. The lessons learned will provide a practical model to be emulated by other services.
At the central and regional levels, EUBAM supports the border services in the design and implementation of their anti-corruption plans, and offers case-by-case advice in the investigation and prosecution of corruption-related crime.
Each of the six EUBAM field offices has a dedicated anti-corruption expert who works with the border services on the ground and the EUBAM anti-corruption advisor based at headquarters.
The Mission is supporting partners’ efforts in enhancing control processes and preventative measures at BCPs. As part of this, training in ethics and awareness and other areas has been delivered to over 370 practitioners since December 2009. These servicemen also took part in integrity testing procedures. The Mission also works with the media and civil society partners to raise awareness.
In cooperation with Odessa State Regional Administration, EUBAM organised two anti-corruption seminars for local governments and top managers of higher educational establishments of Odessa region. In December 2010 EUBAM facilitated a national anti-corruption conference in the Republic of Moldova.
About EUBAM
The EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) was launched on 30 November 2005 at the joint request of the Presidents of the Republic Moldova and Ukraine. EUBAM is fully funded by the European Union, with the United Nations Development Programme acting as implementing partner. It is an advisory, technical body, with no executive powers. The Mission aims to make a sustainable contribution to the delivery of border and customs services of EU standard to the citizens and companies of Moldova and Ukraine.
CONTACTS
Ronan Goggin
+380 482 36 52 74
Cell: +38 050 413 91 34
press@eubam.org
Maryna Reshetnyak
+380 482 36 52 74
Cell: +38 050 391 09 04
press@eubam.org
Dariia Pokhliebaieva
+380 482 36 52 74
Cell: +38 050 415 62 70
press@eubam.org
Republic of Moldova 
