From April 17 to 20, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) organised a technical assistance session for the border agencies of Kyrgyzstan, as part of the elaboration of the National Integrated Border Management Strategy (IBM) and Action plan for the upcoming years.

The mission built upon internal developments in the area of border security in Kyrgyzstan, kept in mind recommendations of the IBM Evaluation mission, as well as incorporating lessons learned and good practices of IBM implementation by the EU member states, in addition to relevant practices of the IBM concept in the non-EU context. Practical examples of successful implementation of IBM principles have been shared by experts from ICMPD, the European Commission Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania.

Upon completion of this technical assistance mission, the expert team represented by the group of international and national experts developed recommendations for a new IBM Strategy and an Action Plan for Kyrgyzstan.

The mission is organised in the framework of the Programme’s Component 1, “Institutional Development of Border Control Agencies”, and aims to further develop and strengthen the institutional capacities of border control agencies in Central Asian countries to achieve international standards and best practices in ensuring national, regional and global security.