During a joint meeting between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania, the Head of Border Police, Fredolin Lecari and his Romanian counterpart Adrian Popescu signed the Protocol on the establishment and activities of joint patrol teams at the common state border. 

The need to conclude this Protocol is of major importance with the aim of improving cooperation between the border institutions of the two countries and increasing the level of state border surveillance common to the fight against all forms of cross-border crime.

We mention that joint patrols are practiced by most European countries, especially those located at the external borders of the European Union, and carry a variety of advantages such as: combating smuggling, combating illegal migration, counteracting criminal activity.

"The joint patrolling will allow us to save the forces and means of both border entities, as well as provide us with the possibility to extend our competences in the implementation of common tactics of action in counteracting border criminals and illegal migration. Moreover, the joint patrol will be carried out within a depth of up to 10 km inside both states, in this respect being a proof of the proximity of the relations of trust and the development of cooperation on the border security dimension, but also a European form of activity in common", said Mr. Fredolin Lecari during a bilateral meeting with the Romanian Border Police delegation.

From 2011 on the Moldovan-Romanian border there is a coordinated patrol, which stipulates the patrol only on the Prut river (with boats). Thus, the Protocol signed today has a territorial applicability located along the common Moldovan-Romanian border, on an area of 10 km from the border line to the territory of the Republic of Moldova and Romania. By way of exception, territorial applicability may extend beyond the area of operation due to the available land and road infrastructure or for immediate and urgent action being taken in the area of operation but without exceeding the areas of competence provided for in national legislation for authorities responsible for border surveillance.