EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes: EU-funded scanners increase capacity at Hungarian-Ukrainian border

A new EU-funded mobile cargo scanner was delivered today to the border crossing point in Chop at the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, in a bid to improve the flow of trade. Valued at approximately €2.5 million, the donation is part of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, an initiative to establish new and improved transport routes in response to Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The Solidarity Lanes, established in May 2022 to bypass Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s usual transport routes, allow Ukraine and Moldova to export their goods to world markets via the EU while also ensuring crucial imports reach Ukraine. Within this framework, the European Commission, together with authorities and partners in the EU, Ukraine and Moldova work together to identify ways to remove administrative and infrastructure bottlenecks. Key priorities include improving traffic management and border procedures, and supporting investments in infrastructure and logistics equipment like mobile scanners.

X-ray scanners are crucial for customs operations as they allow for the non-intrusive inspection of goods. The new scanner will enable customs officers to quickly and effectively inspect cargo, detecting illegal or prohibited items within minutes, while facilitating the smooth flow of legitimate trade. It will speed up border controls, but also increase the accuracy of inspections, while preventing potential damage to goods by reducing the need for physical checks. 

Today’s donation is part of the activities of the EU4IBM-Resilience Project, funded by the EU and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). To ensure the effective use of the scanner, the project will also organise specialised training programs for customs officers. To improve capacity further, two more scanning systems will be delivered by January 2025. Additionally, the project works on ensuring uninterrupted power supplies for stationary scanners located in other border crossing points, to ensure their operation in situations of unstable power supply and blackouts. 

Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport, said: "Speeding up border procedures means shorter waiting times for lorry drivers, faster logistics for companies on both sides of the border and more efficient operations for border control authorities. This new scanner is one of the many examples of how the Solidarity Lanes help keep our trade with Ukraine going – to the benefit of both economies. On the longer term, we are also working on larger infrastructure investments through our Connecting Europe Facility, which will integrate Ukraine’s and Moldova’s transport systems into the EU’s TEN-T network.”

Background

To date, Solidarity Lanes have helped Ukraine export more than 140 million tonnes of goods, such as grain, ores and steel, and import nearly 55 million tonnes of essential merchandises, including fuel, vehicles, fertilisers as well as military and humanitarian assistance. The Solidarity Lanes pass through the Danube region, Poland, the Baltics, and the Adriatic region via rail, road, and inland waterways. These corridors are complementing Ukraine’s Black Sea corridor set up in the autumn 2023.