DUSHANBE, June 1, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik border guards together with their counterparts from other Central Asia’s countries have studied the European experience in border management.

A Study Tour to Hungary and the external border of the European Union organized for the officials of Central Asian border management agencies was completed in Budapest, Hungary on June 1, according to the Delegation of the European Commission in Tajikistan.

It was organized by the EU-UNDP Border Management in Central Asia (BOMCA) assistance program.

During the visits to the Hungarian National Police headquarters and the Police Academy of Hungary participants were informed about the EU border management activities.

Participants of the Study Tour were familiarized with the EU Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept. To establish effective border management systems and to make common borders open, yet controlled and secure, the European countries use the IBM concept which first of all implies cooperation among agencies involved in border security and trade facilitation. 

During field trips, representatives of government agencies from Central Asian states got acquainted with the work of the Border Control Posts (BCPs) located at the external border of the European Union. In particular, they observed border inspection with a thermo-vision camera at night and visited a temporary detention centre located at a BCP.

During 24-26 May 2009, border guard commanders from Central Asia took part in the XVII International Border Police Conference in Zalakaros, Hungary. At the Conference, participants discussed issues ranging from border protection to law enforcement, a role of agencies responsible for border security and other.

In the framework of the EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program, the European Union helps foster institutional reform in border management, strengthens training capacities in Central Asia, and enhances infrastructure capacities along trade and transit corridors in Central Asia. 

The EU-UNDP BOMCA assistance program is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.