RTU FEEM– one of the key organizations in implementing a strategically important EU border management project
The International Business and Customs Institute of the Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management, Riga Technical University is involved in the European Union funded project “Border Management in Central Asia – Phase 9 (BOMCA 9)”. The aim of the project is to improve border security and management, and develop customs education and training system in five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Since the early 1990s Central Asian countries have been experiencing several trans-regional challenges such as human trafficking, trafficking of drugs, organised crime and terrorism. Central Asia is strategically important for Europe as reflected in the European Union Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership adopted by the European Council in 2007.
Since border security is one of the key elements for stability of the whole region, already in 2002 the EU developed a special Programme, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA), aimed at enhancing security, fighting against illegal trafficking and facilitating trade in Central Asia.
The 9th phase of the project (BOMCA-9) was launched in 2015 and originally was supposed to last until 2018; because of the successful implementation of the project activities it has been extended until 2019.
The overall management of the BOMCA-9 project is provided by the Latvian State Border Guard. Project consortium also includes state institutions and international organizations from several European Union member states, including Lithuania, Hungary and Portugal.
The total budget is almost 5 million EUR. 90.90% of it is financed from the EU budget. The project is co-financed by the participating member countries.
For more information, visit the BOMCA-9 project website: https://www.bomca-eu.org/en/
