National Revenue
Administration

Customs 2020 Programme is designed to facilitate and enhance cooperation between customs authorities within the Union, has been established by Regulation (EU) No 1294/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council  of 11 December 2013.

A customs programme at Union level, implemented by the Commission, offers Member States a Union framework to develop those cooperation activities, which is more cost–efficient than if each Member State were to set up individual cooperation frameworks on a bilateral or multilateral basis..

The programme focuses on activities supporting the functioning and modernisation of the customs union in order to strengthen the internal market by means of cooperation between participating countries, their customs authorities and their officials.
The specific objectives of this programme shall be to support customs authorities in protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union and of the Member States, including the fight against fraud and the protection of intellectual property rights, to increase safety and security, to protect citizens and the environment, to improve the administrative capacity of the customs authorities and to strengthen the competitiveness of European businesses.

The specific objectives shall be achieved, in particular by:

• computerisation;
• ensuring modern and harmonised approaches to customs procedures and controls;
• facilitating legitimate trade;
• reducing compliance costs and administrative burden; and
• enhancing the functioning of the customs authorities.

The operational objectives of the Programme shall be the following:

• to support the preparation, coherent application and effective implementation of Union law and policy in the field of customs;
• to develop, improve, operate and support the European Information Systems for customs;
• to identify, develop, share and apply best working practices and administrative procedures, in particular further to benchmarking activities;
• to reinforce the skills and competences of customs officials;
• to improve cooperation between customs authorities and international organizations, third countries, other governmental authorities, including Union and national market surveillance authorities, as well as economic operators and organizations representing economic operators.

Under this programme the representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the National Revenue Administration can participate in the following joint actions:

• seminars and workshops;
• project groups;
• working visits;
• expert teams
• monitoring activities
• customs administration capacity building
• studies
• jointly developed communication actions
• other activities

In order to implement the Programme, the Commission shall adopt annual work programmes.

More information can be found on the web page: Taxation and customs union - The Customs 2020 Programme