The draft legislation envisages updated approaches to service within the agency, the creation of a specialized customs law enforcement unit, and the introduction of a customs detective role.
A customs forum titled “Ukraine’s New Customs Code Based on the EU Customs Code: From Drafting to Implementation” was held in Lviv. Participants included representatives from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance, the State Customs Service, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), the EU4PFM public finance management support program, and business associations. This was reported by the «Sudovo-yurydychna hazeta» (Judicial-Legal Newspaper) and the PromPolitInform portal.
Yuriy Draganchuk, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Finance for European Integration, noted that the new Customs Code is intended to be more than just a legislative update; it is meant to serve as the foundation for a customs system aligned with European Union rules and practices.
According to him, work on the Code is proceeding in cooperation with the European Commission, European experts, international partners, Members of Parliament, and representatives of the business community and the public. Draganchuk also emphasized that customs reform is a key aspect of Ukraine’s European integration. The new Customs Code aims not only to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with EU rules but also to ensure the practical readiness of the Ukrainian customs system for full integration into the European Union’s customs area.
He specifically highlighted the importance of continued coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Finance, the State Customs Service, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and European and international partners.
On August 19 of this year, the Verkhovna Rada passed the draft Customs Code of Ukraine in the first reading. The new Customs Code is intended to establish the legal framework for the further integration of the Ukrainian customs system into the European Union’s customs area.
During the first panel session, Oleksandr Moskalenko, Director of the Customs Policy Department at the Ministry of Finance, presented the key innovations of the new Customs Code.
These include the adoption of EU customs terminology and customs procedure systems, as well as the implementation of European approaches regarding decision-making, customs declarations, customs debt, guarantees, and duty exemptions.
Provisions are also included for updating service protocols, establishing a specialized customs law enforcement unit, and introducing the role of customs detective.
