EU keeps trade flowing smoothly and Customs Union makes sure that Europeans are Safe and Secure

We also adopted an initiative on the EU Single Window Environment for customs. Responsibility for customs goes way beyond just customs legislation. https://www.eudebates.tv/debates/eu-p... #Customs #Schengen #Customs #Borders #EUcustoms One of the major challenges for customs is to keep trade flowing smoothly while still applying all necessary checks and making sure that our people are safe and secure. Today, more than 60 non-customs laws are enforced at the EU's borders in areas ranging from agriculture and fisheries, health and safety, environmental protection, to market surveillance and product compliance – even cultural heritage. These laws often require supporting documents other than customs declarations, affecting up to 13% of the nearly 300 million movements of goods each year. For traders, it represents a heavy extra burden in reporting obligations. Today, the College has adopted a proposal to make their lives easier and trade flows smoother. The Commission proposes to facilitate the electronic exchange of information between customs services and other responsible authorities by linking national single window environments via a central platform. This initiative is also important for EU trade, because it puts our commitments under the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement into effect. The Agreement requires its parties to establish or maintain a single window that allows traders to submit documentation and data requirements for the import, export or transit of goods via a single entry point to participating authorities or agencies. We cannot have a well-functioning single market without a properly functioning Customs Union. Today's small but important piece of legislation allows us to move closer towards making Customs Union a modern, interconnected and paperless environment before the end of 2025 at the latest, as we committed in our Customs Union Action Plan. https://www.eudebates.tv/ #eudebates