E-customs in the EU

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 31^st 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.