Zoeken

The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) decided to organise a workshop with the aim to get a better understanding about customs control practices in Member States and their possible improvements. This briefing provides background information to this event that took place the 15th June 2022.

The study examines whether the Union Customs Code is being properly implemented for the benefit of the European consumers, businesses and EU budget. It covers the complex legislative and administrative framework of the UCC and its governance structure. It assesses the impact of the transitional measures attached to the UCC. It moreover addresses the specific challenges raised in the area of E-Commerce.

Het vrij verkeer van goederen, de eerste van de vier fundamentele vrijheden van de interne markt, wordt gewaarborgd door de afschaffing van douanerechten en kwantitatieve beperkingen, alsook door het verbod op maatregelen die een gelijke werking hebben. Ook de beginselen van wederzijdse erkenning, de afschaffing van materiële en technische belemmeringen, en bevordering van normalisatie dragen bij aan de verdere verwezenlijking van de interne markt. De goedkeuring van het nieuwe wetgevingskader in ...

In December 2016, the European Commission adopted its long-term plan to strengthen the governance and management of the EU customs union. The customs union, in place since 1968, is a pillar of the single market, and vital to the free flow of goods and services. According to the Commission, a strong customs system helps foster competitive businesses, increases wealth, and also protects against terrorist, health, and environmental threats. The customs union operates under the legal framework of the ...

This Study provides an analysis of the effects of the present divergence of the customs sanctioning systems of the Member States of the EU, as well as of the proposal of the European Commission for a Directive to harmonise the customs infringements and sanctions. A number of conclusions and recommendations on the preferred model for the EU is provided. The Study was prepared for Policy Department A on the request of European Parliament´s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

Behind its rather formal title, the 'Protocol amending the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO' deals with something very practical: modernising customs and other procedures so that international trade can operate more smoothly. Conclusion by the EU would be a big step forward towards enabling the agreement to come into force.

The world has seen rapid growth of preferential trade and investment agreements (PTAs) that, by definition, aim to go beyond the existing WTO obligations of the parties. With this growth comes the danger of incompatible obligations as these PTAs overlap within a country. This study examines the sources of overlap in various PTAs and the compliance costs that PTAs may create for a developing country, with a special focus on the agricultural realm. Examining the reality of divergent SPS standards, ...

The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) was the principal outcome of the World Trade Organization's Ninth Ministerial Conference, held in December 2013. The TFA, part of the wider 'Bali package', covers issues including advanced rulings, transparency, goods in transit, specific issues responding to the concerns of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and simplifying customs formalities. The agreement represents a significant breakthrough, as it is the first multilateral agreement concluded by ...

The Andean Community of Nations (CAN), made up of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (Venezuela was a member until 2006, when it withdrew to join Mercosur), has already established a free trade area, with free movement of goods and services (with a few exceptions), but has not yet agreed on a common external tariff that would allow the creation of a common market. A legal instrument has also been adopted to enable the gradual free movement of labour within the region, but this has not yet been fully ...

The EU's current customs code is still based on procedures involving paper documents. In order to modernise the rules and adapt the legislation to the electronic environment, the European Commission has proposed to amend the pending modified customs code and postpone its full implementation until 2020.