1. 3rd UNECE Single Window Symposium Regional Adviser, UNECE Trade
Geneva, October 2017
14 Years of Experience in Implementing Single Window in the Transition Economies of the UNECE Region
Mario Apostolov
Regional Adviser, UNECE Trade

2. Single Window: more of a political and organizational rather than technical tool
SW = the emanation of trade facilitation - cut red tape – often repeated individual data should not be submitted 40 times to 40 different agencies in 40 different documents but, if possible, only once.
The “Options Paper”, the problem tree and objectives tree - reflect the issues in Recommendation 36: Interoperability of Single Window systems (esp. option 4 in the Options Paper).
Necessary to define from the beginning: (a) clear vision what would be the system (interoperability, one SW) at the end; (b) working agenda for the “PG”; and (c) the final result of its work. EU Member States to endorse this reference model, following suggestions from the PG. Decisions are with the MSs (network of national Single Window systems; a joint EU Single Window; or a set of linked existing national SWs, maritime SWs, PCSs, various legal acts, etc.)
A matrix of all certificates and licenses in the EU may help. Distinguish between documents subject to (1) common EU law; (2) national law; (3) mixed; (4) private; (5) does the documentary procedure require certificate availability check or availability check with quantity management, etc.
“Harmonization” and interoperability of data sets, documents, procedures, legal requirements, etc. is central, and the use of global standards for information exchange is the key.

3. Single Window: more of a political and organizational rather than technical tool
SW = the emanation of trade facilitation - cut red tape – often repeated individual data should not be submitted 40 times to 40 different agencies
Need to define from the beginning a clear vision for the final system, endorse it politically.
A Humpty Dumpty syndrome: A SW means whatever I want it to mean.
Needed “harmonization” and interoperability of data sets, documents, procedures, legal requirements, etc. – use international standards.
Facilitate EOs’ work – file individual data only once!
Yet more important is the harmonization of data. Then the submission of data to various agencies is a click away
Improve information sharing among agencies and with business
Improve efficiency of controls
Improve quality of risk management (combine efforts)
The “Options Paper”, the problem tree and objectives tree - reflect the issues in Recommendation 36: Interoperability of Single Window systems (esp. option 4 in the Options Paper).
Necessary to define from the beginning: (a) clear vision what would be the system (interoperability, one SW) at the end; (b) working agenda for the “PG”; and (c) the final result of its work. EU Member States to endorse this reference model, following suggestions from the PG. Decisions are with the MSs (network of national Single Window systems; a joint EU Single Window; or a set of linked existing national SWs, maritime SWs, PCSs, various legal acts, etc.)
A matrix of all certificates and licenses in the EU may help. Distinguish between documents subject to (1) common EU law; (2) national law; (3) mixed; (4) private; (5) does the documentary procedure require certificate availability check or availability check with quantity management, etc.
“Harmonization” and interoperability of data sets, documents, procedures, legal requirements, etc. is central, and the use of global standards for information exchange is the key.

4. Two directions of work:
~80% of work - talks
Political
Build political will
Draft a concept and a feasibility study
Establish a lead agency (e.g. Customs)
Harmonize policy
Technical work
Data Harmonization
Develop an IT system for the SW Align with international standards
Interagency management level working group
~20% technical work
Interagency technical specialists working group
SW  organizational and political instrument
Not an IT system !

5. Various initiatives SE Europe: SW and Data Harmonization initiative:
Success story: fYR Macedonia project EXIM: 2nd SW in Europe!
UNDA project in SPECA (Central Asia): Trade Facilitation
Success stories: SW in Azerbaijan; SW for exports in Uzbekistan;
SWs supported by ECE, GIZ, EU, ADB in Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan
Project in support for TF and SW in the EEC / EEU
Success story: a set of legal acts - basis for SW mechanisms in EEU
EEC started work on a reference model for SW mechanisms
SW & DH initiative in the South Caucasus
Contribution to work on SW and DH in AM, AZ, GE
TF & SW initiative in Ukraine
Success story: PCS in Odessa → Maritime SW, now national SW
Now: SW interoperability initiative with BSEC; collaboration w EC

6. EXIM Single Window in fYR Macedonia
SW project: after UNECE regional seminar in Ohrid, Dec.2006
Specificity: Licensing SW before electronic Customs declaration
Second SW in Europe after the Swedish Stairway
Financing: €1mln, USAID 200,000.

7. Single Window building algorithm in 5 stages (data exchange) – embed SW interoperability
Stage 1: Paperless Customs + electronic payment of Customs duties + electronic container packing list + risk management
Stage 2: Connection to the IT systems of other regulatory agencies (link of paperless Customs to other documents – electronic certificates and licenses)
Stage 3: Electronic document exchange among various stakeholders, port and airport community systems
Regional system of information exchange or cross-border paperless trade
National electronic logistics platform
Traders
Stage 4: Integrated national logistics platform, in which traders and logistics service providers exchange information
Banks for electronic payments
Port Community Systems
Insurance companies
Stage 5: Regional information exchange
Other regulatory bodies - electronic licenses and certificates
Freight forwarders and logistics service providers
Paperless Customs
Phytosanitary certificates
Sanitary certificates
Интернет
Internet
SEW
Veterinary certificates
Airlines
Certificates of origin
Duty-free zones
Other licenses
Importer/exporter/ Customs broker/ Representative/ other interested partners
Administration of ports, airports, etc.
Shipping agents
Terminal operators
Note: in many countries level 3 was developed before level 2
UNNExT SW Guide

8. Single Window in paperless enviroment in Azerbaijan
2009
2011
2010
2012
2013
«Single Window»
on the
customs border checkpoints
for
customs clearance
National SINGLE WINDOW
1st step
2nd step
3rd step
Paper
Electronic
Paper & Electronic

9. National Single Window
Interagency TF Working Group
National TF Strategy
Systems of interorganizational information exchange
National
Single Window
Cargo
Consignor or exporter
B 2 G
G 2 G
Regulatory bodies
Consignee or importer
Maritime sector Single Window
Freight forwarder or 3PL
B 2 G
G 2 G
B 2 B
Port Community System
Cargo
Seminar on national SW and DH, Irpen, Oct. 2016
Consignor, exporter, consignee, freight forwarder

13. Move from document based to process based approach
4 major pillars of interoperability (covered by Rec.36):
BSEC initiative; EC SW initiative
SW uses
international standards for trade data and document exchange
data harmonization
alignment with international standards
Interoperability on different levels:
semantics
business processes
message syntax (IT systems)
legal systems
Legal basis for exchange with other SW systems to be created in each SW
A governance structure to be established for SW interoperability
Move from document based to process based approach

14. www.unece.org/trade & www.unece.org/cefact
Thanks !
Mario Apostolov
Regional Adviser, UNECE Trade Palais des Nations, Room 458 CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland tel.:
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