A new platform was launched to help Moldova deal with the potential increase in organized crime due to the war in Ukraine at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Prague on Monday.
The first real test of the Czech EU presidency came Monday at an informal meeting of interior ministers in Prague.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan and his colleagues, including Moldovan and Ukrainian ministers, discussed how to prepare to fight against war-related organized crime in Ukraine. The main case on their radar is the illegal trafficking of firearms originally intended for the Ukrainian army.
“We have indications (of what is already happening), but we also know from experience (of the wars in Yugoslavia) that it happens very often, that firearms circulate after or during the war,” said the European commissioner. Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. .
“We know how many weapons there are in Ukraine, and of course not all of them are in good hands all the time,” she added.
The problem of transnational organized crime is also linked to the new EU platform (or “hub”) to help Moldova, launched on Monday, which should help strengthen its internal security and the protection of its borders. The country faces both an influx of refugees from Ukraine and a growing threat from Russia.
Twelve EU member states have already sent or promised to send internal security experts to Moldova, and EU agencies will also help.
The new pact on migration and asylum was also on the agenda. Commissioner Johansson took stock of member states’ pledges to relocate asylum seekers from the EU’s external borders. Thirteen countries will participate and will share more than 8000 people.
This new temporary and voluntary system, which will be operational soon, is based on a declaration of solidarity negotiated by the French presidency.
Ministers also discussed new common rules regarding the fight against online child sexual abuse. Czechia wants the project to be ready by the end of this year.
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