“The most ambitious and comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Union since its establishment in 1968.”
That is the view of Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune, following her appointment as the lead negotiator for Customs Reform in the European Parliament.
MEP Clune, a member of the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee says: “I am delighted to be working on this new piece of legislation, revising the European Union’s customs code.
“This reform responds to the current pressures under which EU Customs operates, including a huge increase in trade volumes, especially in e-commerce, a fast-growing number of EU standards that must be checked at the border, and shifting geopolitical realities and crises.
“The measures proposed by the European Commission present a world-leading, data-driven vision for EU Customs, which will massively simplify customs processes for business, especially for the most trustworthy traders.
“A key part of the proposal is the set-up of a new EU Customs Authority, which will oversee an EU Customs Data Hub.
“With the new proposal, customs data will only need to be submitted to the EU Customs Data Hub, as opposed to the multiple interfaces from the many separate systems in place across the EU Member States today.
“This will collectively save Member States, including Ireland up to €2 billion a year in operating costs. Embracing the digital transformation, this reform will cut down on cumbersome customs procedures, replacing traditional declarations with a smarter, data-led approach to import supervision,” MEP Clune concluded.
