The EU Council and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on updating the Union’s customs rules, introducing modern tools for controlling goods, collecting payments and processing customs data. This was reported by the EU Council, as reported by the “EP“. The PromPolitInform portal informs.
As noted, the reform is designed to:
simplify procedures for traders,
increase the security of supplies,
strengthen control over dangerous or substandard goods without creating an unnecessary burden on customs authorities.
According to the Minister of Finance of Cyprus, Makis Keravnos, who heads the EU Council, this is the largest modernization of customs rules since the creation of the Customs Union in 1968. The new code will allow the EU to adapt to geopolitical challenges and ensure economic security.
“The new Union Customs Code will allow us to address the many challenges posed by the new geopolitical realities while ensuring economic security. Once adopted, this modern toolkit will facilitate trade and ensure the proper collection of customs duties in a simplified manner and with the necessary legal certainty,” said Keravnos.
Key innovations include:
the creation of a single EU customs data centre to exchange information between importers, exporters and customs authorities;
simplification of procedures for trusted traders;
the introduction of a handling fee for small parcels of goods entering the EU;
the creation of a decentralised EU customs authority to oversee the data centre and support national authorities in risk management.
The Council of the EU and the European Parliament will continue to finalise the technical details of the package. The new customs rules will enter into force 12 months after publication in the EU Official Journal.
