March 05, 2023
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E-customs in the EU

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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 ()

lt
Pasitikėjimo ekosistema prekių judėjimui per sienas – Jungtinės Karalystės modelis
17-09-2023

Skaitytojo klausimas: Skaitome aktualijas iš Jungtinės Karalystės apie jų kuriamą efektyviausią pasaulyje sieną. Būtų įdomu, jei nuolat apžvelgtumėte, kaip jiems sekasi, kokios naujausios žinios? Atsakydami į klausimą apžvelgiame technologijų panaudojimo tikslus ir bendras kryptis JK, ES, JAV ir kitose šalyse, bei pristatome aktualiai paskelbtą JK pasienio pasitikėjimo ekosistemos pilotinio projekto rezultatų ataskaitą.

IT systems, databases
lt
Pasitikėjimo ekosistema prekių judėjimui per sienas – Jungtinės Karalystės modelis
17-09-2023

Skaitytojo klausimas: Skaitome aktualijas iš Jungtinės Karalystės apie jų kuriamą efektyviausią pasaulyje sieną. Būtų įdomu, jei nuolat apžvelgtumėte, kaip jiems sekasi, kokios naujausios žinios? Atsakydami į klausimą apžvelgiame technologijų panaudojimo tikslus ir bendras kryptis JK, ES, JAV ir kitose šalyse, bei pristatome aktualiai paskelbtą JK pasienio pasitikėjimo ekosistemos pilotinio projekto rezultatų ataskaitą.

IT systems, databases
en
Customs Control Club: Opportunities and Challenges in Customs Digitalization
20-07-2023

For the second year, students from the Department of Control and Analysis of Economic Activities at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria worked in the Customs Control Club formed at the Department. Participation in the club was voluntary, and in the second season 10 students actively participated. The work of the club was under the slogan "Customs in the digital world" and several issues were discussed such as what are the pros and cons of digitalization as a process, the level of digitalization in Customs control around the world, in the EU and Bulgaria, the opportunities for digitalization of import, export and transit processes, etc. As a result of the student's efforts, a summary essay on "Opportunities and Challenges in Customs Digitalization" was prepared.

Neirin Renizal

IT systems, databases
en
Customs Control Club: Opportunities and Challenges in Customs Digitalization
20-07-2023

For the second year, students from the Department of Control and Analysis of Economic Activities at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria worked in the Customs Control Club formed at the Department. Participation in the club was voluntary, and in the second season 10 students actively participated. The work of the club was under the slogan "Customs in the digital world" and several issues were discussed such as what are the pros and cons of digitalization as a process, the level of digitalization in Customs control around the world, in the EU and Bulgaria, the opportunities for digitalization of import, export and transit processes, etc. As a result of the student's efforts, a summary essay on "Opportunities and Challenges in Customs Digitalization" was prepared.

Neirin Renizal

IT systems, databases
image en, lt
Methodical approach to identify added value through digitization and automation
06-07-2023

Michael Tomuscheit

IT systems, databases
image en, lt
Methodical approach to identify added value through digitization and automation
06-07-2023

Michael Tomuscheit

IT systems, databases
en
Current progress towards a fully digital EU customs environment
11-06-2023

From the point of view of many customs operators, especially those who conduct cross-member state customs activities, the developments in IT are rather sobering. Although the legal framework for further standardization and harmonization has been established, isolated solutions and uncoordinated development statuses within the EU are delaying a real breakthrough. In this article, we provide an overview of the project status regarding the report of the European Commission.

Antonia Livajic

IT systems, databases
en
Current progress towards a fully digital EU customs environment
11-06-2023

From the point of view of many customs operators, especially those who conduct cross-member state customs activities, the developments in IT are rather sobering. Although the legal framework for further standardization and harmonization has been established, isolated solutions and uncoordinated development statuses within the EU are delaying a real breakthrough. In this article, we provide an overview of the project status regarding the report of the European Commission.

Antonia Livajic

IT systems, databases
en, lt
The Reform of the UCC
04-06-2023

The EU Commission has presented a proposal for the reform of the Union Customs Code (as well as amendments of several other legal acts). In view of the largely failed centralisation (and thus standardisation) of customs activities and – apart from ICS2 – IT systems, as well as a lack of harmonisation of customs sanctions, the proposals for an EU Customs Data Hub, an EU Customs Authority, the shift to the (deemed) importer as the person responsible for duties and all compliance aspects, as well as a partial harmonisation of customs sanctions are bold steps with regard to which the business community suffering from unequal treatment within the EU Customs Union and Single Market can only wish the EU Commission success in the Council and the Parliament.

Michael Lux

IT systems, databases
en, lt
The Reform of the UCC
04-06-2023

The EU Commission has presented a proposal for the reform of the Union Customs Code (as well as amendments of several other legal acts). In view of the largely failed centralisation (and thus standardisation) of customs activities and – apart from ICS2 – IT systems, as well as a lack of harmonisation of customs sanctions, the proposals for an EU Customs Data Hub, an EU Customs Authority, the shift to the (deemed) importer as the person responsible for duties and all compliance aspects, as well as a partial harmonisation of customs sanctions are bold steps with regard to which the business community suffering from unequal treatment within the EU Customs Union and Single Market can only wish the EU Commission success in the Council and the Parliament.

Michael Lux

IT systems, databases
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