Customs 2013
The Customs Administration of the Netherlands is closely involved in Customs 2013, a European action programme. This programme lists a number of joint general goals for all 27 customs organisations of the European Union:
- to make sure that customs activities comply with the needs of the internal (EU) market, which include offering chain safety and facilitating trade enterprises. This also includes support of the Lisbon strategy for growth of employment and the number of jobs.
- 'to work as a single organisation': with equivalent inspection results at each location in the European Union and support for legitimate trade
- protection of the European Union's financial interests
- improvement of security (safety and security)
- preparation of the accession of new member states and the relevant customs organisations
More specifically, the programme Customs 2013 has the following objectives:
- lifting the administrative burden by means of standardization and simplification of customs procedures
- discovering 'best working practices', e.g. in respect of risk analysis, inspection and simplified procedures
- drafting a system of performance measurement (Measurement of Results)
- promoting rapid distribution of risk-information to all member states
- creating a uniform rate structure (mainly aimed at laboratories)
- creating a pan-European Electronic Customs environment
- maintaining and developing IT-systems
- offering support to prospective member states
- contributing to the development of customs organisations of Third World countries
- developing and promoting joint training
The Customs Administration of the Netherlands and other customs organisations of the European Union are very busy with the Customs 2013 programme. They cooperate by means of study groups, systematic research, projects on subjects including computerization, an exchange programme and seminars.
