In January 2009, Crown Agents began implementing a three year project for Technical Assistance for the EU-ASEAN Migration and Border Management Programme, leading in a partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
This is a second programme for Crown Agents, working for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) via the Secretariat in Jakarta, as the organisation has also been leading the Customs and Trade Facilitation component of the ASEAN-EU Programme for Regional Integration Support (APRIS) since 2003.
The objective of the EU-ASEAN Migration and Border Management Programme is to support the development of an efficient and coherent Integrated Border Management System at selected main border crossing points. This is in order to facilitate the legal movements of goods and persons, whilst combating transnational crime, illegal migration and people trafficking. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen the regional network and cooperation among the Border Management agencies of the ASEAN Member States and to enhance the operational Border Management capacities in selected Border Crossing Points (BCP).
The main target groups are the immigration and customs authorities of all ASEAN countries, as well as selected regional training institutions and relevant judiciary authorities.
Crown Agents will facilitate the EU-ASEAN Migration and Border Management Programme by:
1.Strengthening the regional institutional network through:
- Awareness raising seminars and study tours to Singapore and Europe
- Standardised Operating Procedures for travel document and ID control at the border
- Agreeing on a format for a Pilot Secure Cross Border Pass (smart card) for regular border commuters to be implemented in pilot zones
2. Focusing on the exchange of information between Interpol National Central Bureaus and headquarters.
3. Enhancing the capacities of selected Border Crossing Points by providing equipment (National Databases on travel documents, UV lamps and electronic Cross Border Passes at selected Border Crossing Points) and training.
In the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Crown Agents will be supported by its Asian hub in Singapore as well as its subsidiary offices and project support offices in Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia and Lao PDR. Crown Agents will draw on its regional expertise and experience in the fields of customs and border management to continue providing strong technical support services to the ASEAN Secretariat and its member states.