March 05, 2023
en lt
E-customs in the EU

Adobe Stock

What is called ‘e-customs’?

Electronic customs (‘e-customs’) is a major development for the EU's Customs Union. The project aims to replace paper-format customs procedures with EU-wide electronic procedures to create a more efficient and modern customs environment. The project has two objectives: 

  • enhancing security at the EU's external borders and 
  • facilitating trade.

What is the plan?

The European Commission adopted a Work Programme (Commission implementing decision (EU) 2019/2151 of 13 December 2019), which sets out the plan to replace all paper-based customs procedures with electronic procedures by the middle of 2025. Some systems are being developed at the EU level, others at the national level. Each year the European Commission releases a report on progress in developing electronic systems. The latest report was published in February 2023 (please see here).

Which systems are being developed? (status February 2023)

  1. UCC Registered Exporter System (REX): deployed in 2017
  2. UCC Binding Tariff Information (BTI): deployed in 2019
  3. UCC Customs Decisions: deployed in 2017
  4. Direct trader access to the European Information Systems (Uniform User Management & Digital Signature - UUM&DC): deployed in 2017
  5. UCC Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) upgrade: deployed in 2019
  6. UCC Economic Operator Registration and Identification System upgrade (EORI 2): deployed in 2018
  7. UCC Surveillance 3 (SURV3): deployed in 2018
  8. UCC Information Sheets (INF) for Special Procedures: deployed in 2020
  9. UCC Proof of Union Status (PoUS)
  10. UCC New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) upgrade
  11. UCC Automated Export System (AES)
  12. UCC Special Procedures
  13. UCC Notification of Arrival, Presentation Notification and Temporary Storage
  14. UCC National Import Systems upgrade
  15. UCC Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI)
  16. UCC Guarantee Management (GUM)
  17. UCC Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 1: deployed in 2021

What is the progress?

The focus of the latest annual report by the European Commission is put on the implementation of Notification of Arrival, Presentation Notification and Temporary Storage, Special Procedures - Component 2 and National Import Systems Upgrade. These were planned to be operational by the 31st of December 2022, as defined in the UCC. However, many Member States have reported to the Commission an inability to meet the date provided for in the UCC.

Comments ()

image en
CDS - comprehensive trade environment in UK
30-01-2023

Richard Bartlett

e-customs
image en
CDS - comprehensive trade environment in UK
30-01-2023

Richard Bartlett

e-customs
image en
Access2Markets database: short intro
15-01-2023

Enrika Naujokė

e-customs
image en
Access2Markets database: short intro
15-01-2023

Enrika Naujokė

e-customs
en, lt
A closer look at the Regulation on the EU Single Window Environment for Customs
15-01-2023

In December 2022, Regulation (EU) 2022/2399 establishing the European Union Single Window Environment for Customs was published which amends at the same time two Articles of the UCC. The title of this Regulation is misleading insofar as it suggests to the reader that its aim is to establish an EU Single Window for Customs. So, what is actually the aim of this Regulation? How will our work change in the future? What is the meaning of the UCC amendments introduced by this Regulation? We thank Michael Lux who kindly agreed to answer these and other related questions.

Michael Lux

e-customs
en, lt
A closer look at the Regulation on the EU Single Window Environment for Customs
15-01-2023

In December 2022, Regulation (EU) 2022/2399 establishing the European Union Single Window Environment for Customs was published which amends at the same time two Articles of the UCC. The title of this Regulation is misleading insofar as it suggests to the reader that its aim is to establish an EU Single Window for Customs. So, what is actually the aim of this Regulation? How will our work change in the future? What is the meaning of the UCC amendments introduced by this Regulation? We thank Michael Lux who kindly agreed to answer these and other related questions.

Michael Lux

e-customs
en, lt
Non-customs formalities in EU
15-01-2023

EU Regulation provides a new legal framework to improve information sharing and digital cooperation between customs administrations and other government authorities in charge of enforcing non-customs formalities at the EU border. What are these non-customs formalities?

e-customs
en, lt
Non-customs formalities in EU
15-01-2023

EU Regulation provides a new legal framework to improve information sharing and digital cooperation between customs administrations and other government authorities in charge of enforcing non-customs formalities at the EU border. What are these non-customs formalities?

e-customs
en
Customer service: the next wave
27-12-2022

Since 2016, when the Finnish Government decided to digitalize all public services, Finnish Customs has been working on the development of digital services to improve its customer service. In 2017 the Administration explained, in the pages of this magazine, how it tested the innovation potential of a hackathon to identify solutions that would make it easier to access information about Customs regulations and procedures. In this article, we take a look at the latest tools implemented by Finnish Customs to enhance its capacity to help its customers – namely a chatbot and a contact management system.

Mikael Hyövälti

e-customs
en
Customer service: the next wave
27-12-2022

Since 2016, when the Finnish Government decided to digitalize all public services, Finnish Customs has been working on the development of digital services to improve its customer service. In 2017 the Administration explained, in the pages of this magazine, how it tested the innovation potential of a hackathon to identify solutions that would make it easier to access information about Customs regulations and procedures. In this article, we take a look at the latest tools implemented by Finnish Customs to enhance its capacity to help its customers – namely a chatbot and a contact management system.

Mikael Hyövälti

e-customs
Forgot password?

* Mandatory fields

By signing up you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Password reset

Check your e-mail, we sent you a link to reset your password.


Login with Google Login with LinkedIn

Contact us

Thank you for report
Maximum file size 6mb
File is too large