The EU Commission has presented proposals for EU customs reform. It is described as the most ambitious and comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Union since its creation in 1968. The Commission’s vision is clear: to make the Customs Union more digital and simpler. It also aims to significantly reduce the workload for customs authorities. The latter are facing major challenges due to the strong growth in e-commerce.
The EU Customs Union should become more digital and efficient (Image source: Pixabay)
EU customs data platform
The EU Commission proposes the establishment of an EU customs data platform, which is to be monitored by a newly established EU customs authority. The platform is to be used in the future as a replacement for the existing IT infrastructure, which is associated with high costs.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), the customs data platform can be used by authorities to retrieve information about goods imported into the EU and their supply chains. Companies, in turn, feed data when they register them for import. Particularly trustworthy traders with fully transparent supply chains will also be able to ship goods without registration.
The proposal is now before the EU Parliament and the EU Council. With their agreement, it will go to the European Economic and Social Committee.
Sources: EU Commission
