On November 20, Romania and Moldova signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bucharest on the implementation of coordinated border checks at the Galati-Giurgiulesti checkpoint. This initiative is aimed at facilitating the transit of goods along the Solidarity Roads between Ukraine and the EU, which have become a vital economic road for Ukraine.
The agreement will simplify customs procedures for goods moving from Moldova to Romania, reduce bottlenecks places on the border and will improve traffic flows from both Moldova and Ukraine. The European Commission is actively supporting efforts to improve this key crossing point, located on the Danube Solidarity Road Corridor, the busiest transport route connecting Ukraine and the EU.
According to data from Ukrainian customs registers, the total trade value of solidarity routes is estimated to be approximately €192 billion as of May 2022, contributing to the export of approximately 162 million tons (Mt) of goods from Ukraine. These ways also allowed Ukraine to import 64 mln. tons of goods, including fuel, vehicles, fertilizers, as well as military and humanitarian aid.