At the end of 2005 the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine signed a Joint Declaration on the effective implementation of the customs regime on their common border. EUBAM staff observed and have continued to monitor the implementation of the Joint Declaration at the relevant border crossing points. Their observations indicated that the terms of the Joint Declaration were being implemented correctly. As far as EUBAM was able to ascertain, the procedures for the rapid registration of companies in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova by the Moldovan authorities were in place. The Mission remained in contact with both sides about the technical issues which arose during the implementation of the Joint Declaration and offered advice and assistance where appropriate. It should be emphasised that EUBAM was acting in its technical advisory capacity in accordance with its mandate. It has no executive powers of its own.

The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and the (then) EU Special Representative for Moldova, Mr Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, welcomed the implementation of the Joint Declaration.

Since March 2007 EUBAM has been working closely with the Moldovan and Ukrainian customs authorities to ensure the smooth, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of Moldovan Government regulations on import/export activities, which allow companies in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova with temporary registration to obtain the same access to trade preferences that was previously only enjoyed by companies with permanent registration. The equalisation of access to preferential trade regimes was recommended by the European Commission and is supported on the ground by EUBAM. The rules ensure that all registered companies throughout the territory of Moldova are treated in a non-discriminatory way, and can benefit from access to preferential trade schemes for their exports through increased transparency. They provide a boost to legitimate trade and increase the capacity of customs to perform verification and control of the origin of goods, in accordance with the Republic of Moldova’s international trade obligations, including in the World Trade Organisation (WTO),membership of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA ), and access to the Generalised System of Preferences Plus scheme (GSP+).