Harmonization of customs legislation with the European one, strengthening border controls and modernization of IT systems are part of the activities of the Customs Administration of Macedonia so as to modernize and bring it closer to the European standards.
 
Reforms are realized with EU financial support in the amount of EUR 3 million and they are aimed at preparing the Customs Administration to become an integral part of the EU customs administrations, following the integration of Macedonia in the European Union.
 
– Customs Administration is a service, which from the very first day of the country’s membership in the EU, has to be prepared to undertake the competences in line with the EU acquis and practice, requiring its constant engagement, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Zoran Stavreski said at Tuesday’s presentation of the Customs Administration reform projects, supported by the European Union.
 
According to him, significant progress as regards Customs Administration reforms was made in the last three years.
 
– Three-four years ago, Customs Administration was known to be very inefficient and corrupted institution, in which it was hard to obtain declaration and to export or import goods. Today, progress is recognizable, i.e. it is obvious that quality and efficiency of customs operations is at much higher level and that Macedonia, given the level of development, has very good standards as regards the transport of goods and people and facilitation of both the economy and the trade, Minister Stavreski said.
 
He said that, last year, 50 measures of the Regulatory Guillotine were adopted, referring to simplification and acceleration of customs procedures and that the project for electronic processing of customs declarations is ongoing.
 
According to EU Ambassador Erwan Fouere, Customs Administration, in the last years, experienced progress, particularly in fight against crime and trade in counterfeit goods and implementation of strategies for fight against corruption and training and professional progress of customs officials.
 
– Customs administrations face new challenges today. They have to ensure smooth flow of trade and at the same time apply special control measures and keep safety of citizens. In order to achieve balance among these demands, customs procedures and control methods have to be modernized and the cooperation between different services should be strengthened, Fouere pointed out.(MIA)
