Annexes to COM(2019)57 - Mid-term evaluation of the Customs 2020 programme - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2019)57 - Mid-term evaluation of the Customs 2020 programme. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2019)57  |
| date | February 7, 2019 |
Customs 2020 has created tangible outputs and helped customs officials acquire skills and exchange experiences. However, none of the programme’s outputs would likely continue beyond the short term if the programme were to be discontinued. Existing differences would persist and networks built and improved thanks to years of collaboration would fade.
7.Conclusions
The Customs 2020 programme has been highly relevant in terms of meeting the needs of customs administrations, economic operators, European citizens and the Customs Union as a whole. Over the years, it has become an integral part of the national and European customs landscape, policies, processes and procedures, providing interoperable, interconnected and reliable European Information Systems. As the Member States depend on each other to carry out their customs functions properly, they need effective and efficient tools for communication, the exchange of information and overall cooperation, all of which are the programme’s objective.
The programme has been effective in achieving its objectives and has contributed significantly to the proper functioning of the Customs Union and modernising it. It has fostered cooperation and the exchange of information, ranging from facilitating convergence at the strategic level to approximating approaches, interpretation, administrative procedures, best practice and rules at the operational level. The secure platform for exchanging information has helped Member States and economic operators to overcome their reluctance to share sensitive data and has built trust. The value of human networks and personal contacts has been among the programme’s most appreciated benefits.
Enhanced cooperation and trust have helped the Member States to support each other in protecting the financial and economic interests of the EU and its Member States as well as increasing safety and security thanks to the efficient exchange of reliable information. In terms of increasing the administrative capacity of customs authorities, the Customs 2020 programme has been instrumental in helping customs administrations to prepare for the formal adoption of the UCC thanks to a shared understanding of legal requirements, alignment of interpretations of the customs provisions, standardisation of terminology and more uniformity in the application of the working methods of the UCC.
In terms of efficiency, the most resource-intensive component — the European Information Systems — is also the most useful, bringing an array of benefits in all areas of customs activities, including standardisation of customs procedures, uniform implementation of customs law, sharing of information and generating economies of scale, in particular by way of the centralised systems. They are used in the day-to-day operations of customs authorities and economic operators, and their importance in modernising customs to create a paperless environment has been invaluable. Different benefits arise from the joint actions and training activities, which provide a framework for broad and inclusive continuous collaboration, increasing understanding, knowledge and capacity, creating professional relationships and acting as catalysts. The common IT systems and databases supported by the programme lead directly to a simpler, more robust and more reliable technological framework that is easy to maintain and support.
The Customs 2020 programme plays an integral part in the EU’s broader policies and coherent with the EU’s goal of creating a modern, paperless environment for customs and trade, while preserving the EU’s financial, economic and societal interests and well-being. By supporting UCC implementation, the programme helps facilitate trade and reduce costs for businesses, increasing their productivity and competitiveness.
The Customs 2020 programme’s greatest EU added value lies in supporting all aspects of UCC implementation, which require EU solutions for EU problems and close cooperation of the Member States; they need to apply the same rules and assist each other in pursuing the Customs Union’s objectives. The programme has provided for financial sustainability of the interoperable and interconnected European Information Systems, meeting the requirements of the UCC with greater economies of scale and efficiency. The symbiotic features of the central pan-European IT architecture for customs are unmatched and cannot be reproduced at national level. The joint actions have also given the administrations unequalled opportunities for cooperation, communication and networking, building trust and leading to greater convergence of approaches and practices. Given the scale of the Customs 2020 operations, versatility of topics and their European or pan-European dimension, it is difficult to imagine that similar activities would have been organised at any other level. None of the programme’s outputs would likely continue beyond the short term if the programme were to be discontinued. Existing differences would persist and networks built and improved thanks to years of collaboration would fade. The functioning of the Customs Union and further integration of national customs authorities that run it are still wholly dependent on the Customs programme. In view of the rapid changes and challenges ahead for the Customs Union, the programme’s continuous support is essential.
(1) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.