The Irish Presidency today secured provisional agreement with the European Parliament on the Union Customs Code.
The Union Customs Code is a recast of the Modernised Customs Code which was due to take effect from June this year-it has been recast to take account of changes in the customs environment since its adoption in 2008 and to conform with requirements of the Lisbon Treaty.
The Code, viewed as an essential element of the efficient and effective functioning of the EU’s Single Market, takes account of technological changes and provides for convergence of Member States’ IT systems which will mean information can be shared easily and goods can be more readily tracked. The legislation will see the streamlining of customs practices across Member States, leading to a faster, more economical system as it reduces administrative burden on business.
The agreement will now go to Committee of Permanent Representatives for final approval.