Launched in 2005, the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) is an advisory, technical mission. The legal basis for EUBAM is the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Commission and the Governments of Moldova and Ukraine on 7 October 2005.
The Mission works with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to harmonise border control, customs and trade procedures in order to meet EU standards. It helps to strengthen cross-border cooperation between the border guard and customs agencies and other law enforcement bodies and to facilitate international cooperation. EUBAM activities foster economic development and enhance regional security.
Funded by the European Union within the context of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, and with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) acting as implementing partner, EUBAM is an advisory, technical body mandated to enhance the border-management capacities of its partners – the border guard/ border police and customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

EUBAM's area of operations spreads along the Republic of Moldova-Ukraine state border which is 1,222 km long and consists of 955 km of “green” (land) border and 267 km of “blue” (river) border. The Mission is headquartered in Odesa (Ukraine) with two country offices (in Chisinau – the Republic of Moldova and in Odesa - Ukraine) and six field offices in its area of operation – three on the Moldovan side of the common border and three on the Ukrainian side. There are 67 border crossing points along the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, including 26 Local Border Crossing Points at the central (Transnistrian region) segment.

The administrative boundary line between the two banks of the Nistru river is 411 km long. Ten customs posts are located along it, within which Moldovan Customs Service representatives perform the customs control duties, supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova representatives. Six Bureaus of Migration and Asylum subdivisions, in which foreigners can voluntarily register or de-register, are also located on the boundary line.
EUBAM does not have executive powers.

Since 2017 EUBAM is in its twelfth operational phase, for this period the following goals were set in front of the Mission:
- to support the development of Transnistrian region-related confidence-building measures and approximation of legislation and procedures in customs, trade, transport, and transboundary management;
- to ensure implementation of the Integrated Border Management at the Moldova-Ukraine border with special attention to its central segment (Transnistrian region);
- to combat cross-border crime on the Moldova-Ukraine border, especially at the central segment (Transnistrian region).

One of the Mission’s most expected result is that border control, customs and trade standards and procedures in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine are harmonized with those in EU Member States. Moreover, the cross-border cooperation between the border guard and customs agencies and other law enforcement bodies is improved and international cooperation facilitated. Through its activities, EUBAM is expected to promote the economic development and enhance the regional security.