1. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 1 Single Window European Commission Vision UNECE Regional Conference on Trade Facilitation Tbilisi, 23 - 24 June 2009

2. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 2 Content The Commission’s Perspective Legal Framework Electronic Customs Initiative Methodology Single Window in the EU Progress Inter-Service Working Group Way Forward

3. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 3 Single Window – the Commission’s Perspective Essential and most challenging part of the electronic customs initiative Full scope single window Electronic format envisaged Based on international standards To be managed by customs Not unique single window for the EU No shift of competences between administrations Ideally to be connected with one-stop shop

4. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 4 Legal Framework Communication on the role of e-Government for Europe’s future (COM (2003) 567) i2010 e-Government Action Plan (COM (2006) 173) Council resolution on creating a simple and paperless environment for customs and trade (2003/C 305/1) ‘Electronic customs decision’ (Dec. 70/2008) ‘Modernised’ Customs Code (Reg. 450/2008)

5. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 5 Based also on ‘Safety and security amendment’ of Customs Code (Reg. 648/2005) Aims at establishing secure, integrated, interoperable and accessible electronic customs systems in 27 Member States Aims at creating: EU wide electronic customs declaration environment Economic operators systems Customs tools systems Electronic Customs Initiative

6. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 6 First milestone for safety and security systems - June 2009 Systems of Modernised Customs Code next Single Window represent the most ambitious project to be established at final stage: Functional specifications by February 2011 Further timeline not legislated for Electronic Customs Initiative – cont’d

7. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 7 Methodology European Union specifics –27 national customs administrations –Community AND national policies applied by national customs administrations Wherever possible, international standards to be used such as: –WCO framework of standards – WCO data model –UN-ECE standards and recommendations

8. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 8 Single Window in the EU To enable economic operators to lodge electronically and once only all information required by customs and non-customs legislation for EU cross-border movements of goods Development of national Single Window systems in all Member States National Single Window systems and EU centrally- managed systems interoperable Initiative coordinated by DG TAXUD

9. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 9 Progress EU Single Window initiative at its outset Commission inter-service group works from June 2005: –to coordinate the approach of the Single Window concept at the Commission level –to explore and report on all Commission legislation and systems relevant to the international trade of goods. High level strategic seminar on Single Window in March 2006 Informal presentations of the Commission vision to Member States

10. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 10 Inter-Service Working Group Working document prepared on the concept of Single Window –provides the inventory of (existing and future) databases, electronic systems and exchange of information and documents existing at the Commission; –provides also inventory of certificates listed in TARIC, overview of scientific projects and studies of international organisations.

11. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 11 Way Forward Agreeing with Member States and other Commission services on common design Providing guidance to Member States from EU level – feasibility study Collecting info on most used documents Possible pilot project in one area for testing Providing practical support to Member States

12. European Commission / Taxation and Customs Union 1968-2008 23 June 2009 UNECE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRADE FACILITATION 12 Questions and Comments DG TAXUD website on electronic customs: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/policy_i ssues/electronic_customs_initiative/index_en.htm Eva Kaňovská, DG TAXUD Unit C1 eva.kanovska@ec.europa.eu +32-2-295-88-32