The European Commission has adopted this week a legal act for a simpler, more modern and integrated EU customs system. It builds on the existing provisions of the Union Customs Code adopted in 2013, by providing detailed rules for twenty-first century customs processes.
Customs services play a central role in policing the EU’s external borders and in facilitating trade. The customs union is the operational arm of much of the EU’s commercial policy measures.
In addition, a growing range of government agencies call on customs to enforce their policies at the border. EU customs handle 16% of world trade, or over two billion tonnes of goods a year with a value of €3,400 billion.
Source: European Commission.
