Rules for crossing the border with the EU will change: what Ukrainians should be prepared for

By the end of the year, Ukraine may introduce joint customs and border control on its border with the European Union (EU). Polish border guards may be the first to start checking travelers together with their Ukrainian counterparts.

This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a meeting of the Ukrainian government. Negotiations are currently ongoing.

"The European Commission is currently evaluating our potential agreement with Poland. After agreeing on the technical issues, we will be able to use this developed model for our other EU neighbors," Shmyhal said.

In addition, he said, in 2025 Ukraine will further expand and improve the eCheck system. "In more than 2 years, we have almost 1.6 million border crossings using this system. Every day, thousands of trucks and buses use the system, which reduces the time they spend at the border," the Prime Minister emphasized.

The government also plans to further modernize checkpoints, as in 2024 it approved the Strategy for the Development of Border Infrastructure with the EU and Moldova until 2030, which provides for the reconstruction of 28 checkpoints and the construction of at least six new ones.

"Our goal is to make border crossing for citizens and businesses as fast and convenient as possible," Shmyhal said.

It was also reported that in the coming years, new checkpoints "Luzhanka" and "Velyka Palad" will be opened in Transcarpathia, and the construction of "Bila Tserkva" on the border with Romania will begin. The reconstruction of Uzhhorod and the introduction of eChecks will increase the efficiency of border crossing and support business. Such changes were initiated to support business, accelerate turnover, and unload the existing checkpoints, where a significant number of vehicles are currently accumulating.

OBOZ.UA also reported that Ukrainians need to have a package of documents to cross the border with the EU countries. In particular, an identity card/passport, a valid driver's license corresponding to the category of the vehicle he or she is driving, a vehicle registration certificate, and a certificate of periodic technical inspection.

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