National guard of Ukraine develops cooperation
with Italian Carabinieri Corps
On March 30, 2021, the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Colonel-General Mykola Balan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Guard of Ukraine and the Arma dei Carabinieri of the Italian Republic. The ceremony of the signing followed the agreements reached in August 2020 during a meeting of the Ukrainian-Italian Council for Economic, Industrial, and Financial Cooperation (where the co-chair from the Ukrainian side is the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Memorandum was first signed by the General Commander of the Italian Carabinieri and then delivered to the National Guard of Ukraine.The signing of the Memorandum is an influential event for the National Guard of Ukraine. Fulfillment of its provisions will facilitate the implementation of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine for the development of the NGU, considering the experience of EU member states, strengthening its institutional capacity to perform assigned tasks, as well as the Strategy of de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied region of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol.
The Memorandum provides the strengthening of cooperation on training and capacity building of both structures in the following main areas :
– Counterterrorism ;
– Crowd and Riot management ;
– Stability Policing ;
– Exchange of experience specifically in the field of training under relevant international standard procedures, as well as the assistance in the building in the security capacity ;
– Joint participation in projects funded by national and international counterparts or donors.
The signed document will remain valid for an indefinite period until parties will decide to revise it.
Expanding of cooperation with the Italian Carabinieri will promote the introduction of the best European law enforcement norms and practices in the activities of the National Guard of Ukraine to develop the necessary programs to ensure the safety of citizens and public order.
In 2019, by the invitation of the Italian Carabinieri in the framework of the International Association of Gendarmerie and Police Forces in the status of a military institution «FIEP» 10 servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine took part in practical training on Crowd and Riot management in Rome (Italian Republic).
NGU servicemen are taking part in the annual training at the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU, Vicenza, Italy) for the training to participate in international operations for peace and security.
