The New European Customs Reform - Opportunities And Challenges

Abstract

The customs system of the EU serves as a guardian of the single market, but in recent years, it has been subjected to increased stress due to the rapid growth in trade volume, challenges posed by e-commerce, and the growing number of standards regarding goods that need to be tracked at the borders. As a result, in early May 2023, the European Commission proposed a reform project aimed at simplifying the customs procedures by reducing bureaucracy and increasing transparency while simultaneously strengthening the protection of the EU's financial and non-financial interests. The changes can be described as revolutionary or even too ambitious, but if successful, the reform would mark the beginning of a new approach to customs control without parallel on a global scale. Every change brings new opportunities, but it can also give rise to a range of problems. In this regard, it is important to be well-prepared to maximize the benefits of the former and adequately respond to and even prevent the latter.