Representatives of the Territorial Department Economic Security Bureau in Lviv region, border guards, customs officers, representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, prosecutors, judges and foreign experts discussed the possibilities of interagency cooperation in investigating the illegal use of humanitarian aid and the need for cross-border cooperation in tracking the logistics and sources of humanitarian goods. The discussion took place in Lviv as part of a roundtable on the misuse of humanitarian aid.

Valeriy Tatsienko, head of the Territorial Department ESBU in Lviv region, noted that the simplified mechanism for importing humanitarian goods across the border allows expensive goods to be moved under the guise of humanitarian goods in order to evade taxes. Such violations fall under the jurisdiction of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine. It is difficult for law enforcement agencies to establish how the goods were identified abroad before being imported into Ukraine.

Gediminas Buciunas, Senior Adviser on Prosecution at the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine regional representation in Lviv, spoke about Lithuania's experience in investigating the misuse of humanitarian aid. Markus Rolofs, rule of Law Trainer at EUAM Lviv region representation also utlined the reputational risks for Ukraine from the misuse of humanitarian aid in the international context.

The participants of the meeting concluded that investigating the illegal use of humanitarian aid requires joint efforts of various law enforcement agencies. Successful results of investigations increase trust in law enforcement agencies and the government in general.

Recently, the leadership of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine and experts from more than 10 countries discussed Ukraine's integration into the EU economic security system. The purpose of the meeting was to adopt the practices of the European Union to ensure the protection of financial interests of Ukraine and foreign donors. Read more.