EU grant to modernize the “Shepit – Izvoarele Sucevei” border crossing: BOND project recommended for funding

Ukraine and Romania plan to modernize the “Shepit – Izvoarele Sucevei” border crossing point using EU grant funding to strengthen cross-border infrastructure, according to the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

The Managing Authority of the Interreg VI-A NEXT “Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027” Programme has approved the selection of the BOND (Border Operations and National Development) project. The Programme’s Monitoring Committee recommended BOND for financing, with a potential grant of up to EUR 690.9 thousand, covering up to 90% of the total budget.

BOND is presented as the next step in the comprehensive effort to open the “Shepit – Izvoarele Sucevei” crossing, envisaged by the intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Romania. Previously, under the “Romania–Ukraine 2014–2020” Programme, mirror infrastructure works were delivered on both sides of the border, including bridges, access roads, and flood-protection measures on adjacent sections (around 2 km on the Ukrainian side and 3 km on the Romanian side).

The new BOND project focuses on technical equipment for the border crossing on both sides: procurement and installation of specialized systems to ensure safe and efficient operations. It also предусматриває the development of a joint cross-border strategy for the development of border areas.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research 

IDR assesses BOND as a shift from “infrastructure readiness” to operational capacity of the border. In practice, throughput and service quality are determined not only by roads and bridges, but by equipment, procedures, interoperable IT solutions, and risk management (queues, security, and cyber resilience). In wartime conditions, opening an additional crossing on the western border is strategically important for logistics resilience, diversification of routes, and reducing peak pressure on adjacent checkpoints. For maximum impact, the cross-border strategy should be tied to measurable performance indicators (e.g., processing time, flow forecasting, incident response) and harmonized operational standards.