Baghdad, Iraq: On 14 October 2020, ICMPD welcomed high-level participants from the Iraq Border Ports Commission Council, the European Union Advisory Mission to Iraq and the European Union Delegation to Iraq to discuss drafting of a National Integrated Border Management (IBM) Strategy and Action Plan for Iraq.
The meeting presented the core elements and principles of the EU IBM concept as a source of inspiration for the development of strategic border management governance, as well as the available support that ICMPD could offer to the Iraqi government to support the drafting of a strategy and action plan.
The Border Port Commission, chairing the meeting, highlighted the development of automatic systems and processes at border crossing points as a top priority for the Iraqi government. Participants from other ministries participating further discussed the potential of an IBM strategic framework to better coordinate COVID-19 responses at borders, enhance links with Iraq’s existing national migration policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, and better clarify and coordinate the relevant mandates of the government agencies working at borders.
The BPC Council, chaired by the Border Ports Commission Chairman, Dr. Omar Al Wa’aly, is comprised of permanent members at Director General level from the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport, Intelligence Services, as well as Ministries of Health, Culture and Agriculture. The Council is an inter-agency governance body tasked with management of Iraq’s border crossing points by the Council of Ministers under Law No.30 of the Iraqi legal framework.
Following the meeting, the BPC Council will take a formal decision on whether to pursue development of a National IBM Strategy for Iraq or not.
The Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept calls for cooperation and coordination between all actors involved in border management at national and international level. By improving communication, information exchange and mutual assistance of and between border services, the state border can be managed more successfully. The concept aims at simultaneously enhancing trade facilitation and ensuring a high level of border security and has the potential to support Iraq in its economic development and protection of national security.
The workshop was organised by ICMPD within the framework of the European Union funded Integrated Border Management in the Silk Routes Countries (IBM Silk Routes) project, implemented by ICMPD.
