"Customs Platform: Ukraine-EU 2022" on the topic: "Starting of the common transit procedure (NCTS) in Ukraine, European integration and security in the conditions of Russian armed aggression in the center of Europe"
On October 5, the "Customs Platform: Ukraine-EU 2022" was held in Kyiv on the topic: "The start of operation of the common transit procedure (NCTS) in Ukraine, European integration and security in the conditions of Russian armed aggression in the center of Europe", dedicated to the launch of "customs visa-free" - the beginning actions of the Convention on the Common Transit Procedure (NCTS).
"It is important to realize that Ukraine, with the support of international partners, accomplished an incredible thing in the shortest possible time: on August 25 of this year, Ukraine received an official invitation to join two customs conventions and the international application of NCTS, which is already commonly called "customs visa-free". And already on October 1, "customs visa-free" for Ukraine started working: the first cargoes crossed the border of Ukraine in both directions according to the NCTS joint transit procedure," said Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko during the opening of the event.
Also, during the work of the first platform, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine highlighted the relevance of the Convention on the NCTS joint transit procedure in the context of the development of international transportation and improving the security of crossing the state border under martial law.
"The challenges of the war, which is currently taking place in the center of Europe, united the European Commission and friendly countries to support the European integration processes of Ukraine, in particular, in the customs sphere. In this situation, the use of NCTS by Ukraine expands the exchange of customs information, strengthens the system of risk analysis, and ensures the recognition of our forms of customs control by the customs authorities of other countries. All this strengthens the security of customs transportation and promotes the development of international trade in Europe. Ukraine is making every effort to restore its economy, taking into account the vectors of changes in the world economy, so that Ukrainian business will take its rightful place," Serhiy Marchenko emphasized.
"The ties between Ukraine and the EU have never been as close as they are today. Step by step, Ukraine is moving forward along the path that will lead it to join our Union. I would like to congratulate Ukraine on joining the Convention on Common Transit, which means that customs transit procedures with the EU have become much simpler and more efficient. I am sure that this will not only promote, but actually accelerate trade between the EU and Ukraine. We will work closely with the Ukrainian authorities to make the most of this opportunity in the coming months and years," said EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni.
People's Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Danylo Hetmantsev spoke about the experience of synchronizing the work of the Parliament and the Government, legislative support for Ukraine's accession to customs conventions.
"The implementation of all norms for joining the NCTS into the Ukrainian legislation was carried out during the last months thanks to the coordinated and intensive work of all branches of government and international partners. I would like to remind you that we have been approaching "customs visa-free" since 2016, but real steps began in 2019. We have set ourselves an ambitious goal: in December 2024 – membership in the EU. And on this path, all our actions on the implementation of EU legislation should take place at exactly the same pace and in exactly the same format as it happened with "customs visa-free". This is a great example, as well as a unique opportunity for business," emphasized Danylo Hetmantsev.
Summarizing the work of the "Ukraine-EU 2022 Customs Platform", Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine for European Integration Yurii Draganchuk emphasized the priority of the customs direction in European integration processes, and also expressed his gratitude to international partners, in particular institutions, support projects, experts of the European Union and member states of the Conventions , international partners from other countries who helped and are helping to transform Ukrainian customs to European standards.
"The Ministry of Finance's immediate plans include the completion of bringing customs legislation into line with the EU Customs Code in accordance with the Association Agreement, and in the medium term, the preparation of a new Customs Code of Ukraine, which will be fully based on the provisions of the EU Customs Code. We will also pay attention to the development of customs IT," Yurii Draganchuk said.
Deputy Head of the Representation of the European Union in Ukraine Remy Duflo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine Bartosz Cihotski, customs attachés of embassies of European countries in Ukraine, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service Vladyslav Suvorov, experts of the EU4PFM and RST projects of the Ministry of Finance also took part in the work of the "Customs Platform". , representatives of business and business associations.
A separate panel was devoted to the practice of using the common transit procedure (NCTS) - new experience, opportunities for business, perspectives, recommendations. The participants emphasized the importance of Ukraine's accession to the "customs visa-free regime", and also had the opportunity to discuss the issue of customs transformation in offline and online formats, adherence to international conventions in the conditions of martial law and prospects for Ukraine's accession to the EU.