State Customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus
Project «Construction and equipment of the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina" on the border of the Republic of Belarus with the Republic of Latvia: introduction of non-Intrusive inspection technology» operated under the framework of the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus.
The main aim of the project was the introduction of a new technology of non-intrusive (without opening) customs inspection of vehicles at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina" of the Vitebsk Custom House.
General aims of the project:
1. The increase in the capacity of the border crossing point, which was planned to be achieved by accelerating the customs control of vehicles through the scanning of large containers, heavy vehicles, other vehicles without opening;
2. Increase the safety of cargo traffic, which was planned to be achieved by improving the quality and reliability of control by scanning large containers, heavy vehicles, and other vehicles without opening.
Project activities:
1. Project Management and Coordination;
2. Construction, supply and installation of equipment;
3. Training and professional development;
4. Informing cargo carriers about the advantages of the new customs inspection system;
5. Organization of inspection of vehicles using Inspection Complexes.
Type of Project: the project had cross-border nature.
The total budget of the projectwas 2,7 mln. EUR
The project was financed by means of the European Union with co-financing of the Belarusian side. The contribution of the European Union amounted to 2,5 mln. EUR, The contribution from the Belarusian side amounted to 277 thousands EUR (10% of the cost of the grant for the implementation of the project).
International technical assistance project was implemented by the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus in cooperation with:
State revenue service of the Republic of Latvia;
Vitebsk Custom House;
Minsk Central Custom House.
Target groups:
The customs officials of the Republic of Belarus, working at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina»;
Personnel of the border service and other state control services of the Republic of Belarus operating at the border crossing point;
Employees of the customs authorities of the Republic of Latvia working at the border crossing point "Paternieki".
Final beneficiaries of the project:
Cargo carriers, drivers and passengers of cars and buses.
The population of the cross-border region.
Project result:
1. Reduction of losses of carriers from Belarus and EU countries (including Latvia) due to downtime.
2. The increase in cargo traffic through the Belarusian and Latvian part of the region, which can bring benefits to entrepreneurs of the region from transit.
3. Improving the safety of cargo traffic.
4. Prevention of import and export of contraband.
The terms of the project:2012-2014
Project activities:
January 20, 2012, Grant contract for the implementation of the project was signed.
March 11, 2012,the pre-financing payment in the amount of 786,501. 22 EUR was received on the account specially opened by the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus for the implementation of the project.
April 1, 2012,the implementation of the project began.
April 27, 2012, an installation meeting of the project participants was held in Minsk.
November 6, 2012,a notice of the tender for the selection of the supplier within the project implementation on the websites http://www.icetrade.by/ and http://simap.europa.eu/enotices/Login.do;jsessionid=6C9BB555ED530EA85CB5C194E9FD6479 has been published.
December 20, 2012,changes in the tender documentation were posted on the websites http://www.icetrade.by/ and http://simap.europa.eu/enotices/Login.do;jsessionid=6C9BB555ED530EA85CB5C194E9FD6479 .
January 10-11, 2013, coordination meeting of the project partners was held at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina".
February 18, 2013,the winner of the open tender for supply was chosen.
April 23, 2013, the contract for the supply of inspection equipment with the company "Rapiscan Systems Ltd" was signed.
June 18-19, 2013, coordination meeting of the project partners was held at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina".
November 21, 2013, coordination meeting of the project partners was held at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina".
March 20, 2014, coordination meeting of the project partners was held at the border crossing point "Grigorovshchina".
August 18-22 and September 8-12, 2014, training courses for 10 officials of the Vitebsk Custom House in the Republic of Latvia were conducted.
August 25 - September 7 and September 15-28, 2014, practical internships for 5 Belarusian specialists were conducted.
September 2 and 10, 2014,two Belarusian-Latvian meetings were held with the aim of developing a technology for customs control of goods using a scanning system.
November 14, 2014, on the basis of the Vitebsk Custom House a meeting with the cargo carriers to provide information on the planned opening of the inspection complex and the advantages of using the technology of non-intrusive inspection while crossing the border was held.
November-December 2014, the equipment was supplied by “Rapiscan Systems Ltd” and installation and adjustment of scanning equipment were carried out.
January 2015, the inspection complex was put into operation.
March 27, 2015, in the region of the Vitebsk Custom House, a solemn opening ceremony of the inspection complex took place with the participation of all project partners. A press conference was held.
Useful links:
The European Commission's Directorate-General for International cooperation and Development
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/who/index_en.htm
Delegation of the European Union to Belarus
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/belarus/index_en.htm
Joint Managing Authority of cross-border cooperation "Latvia - Lithuania - Belarus" - Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
Joint Technical Secretariat
Konstitutsies Av., 7,
LT-09308 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel .: +370 5 261 0477
Fax: +370 5 261 0498
info@enpi-cbc.eu, www.enpi-cbc.eu
The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
