Customs 2013

Period: 2008 to 2013
Budget: EUR 323,8 million

As the name implies, the Customs 2013 programme extends the life of the Customs 2007 programme through to the end of 2013, incorporating the lessons learned during the previous stage and incorporating new demands. For this stage in particular, the programme aims to encourage economic growth, employment and competitiveness both within the EU and on the international trading market.

Similar to the 2007 programme, this stage also seeks to simplify customs systems and ensure the security of the markets and its citizens against fraud. The programme will also continue to encourage communication and cooperation among customs officials and ensure actions in harmony with the internal market,

Besides including Member States and candidate countries in the programme, this stage also invites potential candidate countries and Members of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to spread cooperation and good practices in customs and trade to other countries.

The specific objectives of the 2013 programme remain in line with those from the previous programme:

• Standardize and simplify customs to cut costs

• Develop and implement best practices, especially in post-clearance audit control, risk analysis and simplified procedures;

• Implement measurement methods to use in regards to Member States' actions

• Ensure there are no differences in customs policies through the speedy exchange of information

• Develop an electronic customs communication system

• Improve existing communication and information systems or develop new ones

• Ensure the successful integration of candidate countries into the customs union

• Help third countries develop their customs services

• Improve cooperation among customs officials both within the EU and with third countries, especially those in the European Neighbourhood policy;

• Implement customs training programmes

However, the new programme puts particular emphasis on finding more effective and organized ways of sharing information among each Member States' officials and the Commission. The other new areas of emphasis and action in this stage include:

• Develop a pan-European electronic customs environment, in which to implement a modernised Customs Code

• Increase cooperation with officials from outside the EU, especially in supply chain security

• Utilize the Authorised Economic Operator Concept

• Maintain current European IT systems

To achieve the above objectives, the programme utilizes the same areas and actions as the previous programme, noting their effectiveness thus far:

• Establish equal and efficient communication and information-exchange systems

• Benchmark and compare methods and their effectiveness between Member States

• Conduct seminars and workshops

• Utilize project groups

• Organize exchange visits for authorities

• Establish training programmes

• Monitor the progress of the projects

• Any other action that will help achieve the objectives

The communication and information exchange systems covered in this programme consist of:

• Common Communications Network/ Common Systems Interface (CCN/CSI)

• New Computerised Transit System (NCTS/NSTI)

• Tariff systems

• Electronic customs systems

• Security amendment system

• Any new customs communication and information exchange systems