EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren has reiterated the need for customs procedures to work to support the competitiveness of the EU economy.
Speaking after the European Parliament adopted a ruling on the on the evaluation of external aspects of customs performance and management, Verschueren said, “Customs must of course ensure that our borders are secure and that the goods are properly imported and are safe. But customs procedures also impose burdens and impact directly on the free flow of products in every part of the value supply chain, adding costs and delay for businesses and, ultimately, consumers.
“We support all efforts to create a simpler, consistently applied and more efficient approach to customs, cutting red tape and saving costs for traders."
EuroCommerce, which represents retailers across Europe, believes that the European Parliament made some ‘useful suggestions on creating consistent application of the new Customs Code across the EU, and the sharing of best practice among customs authorities.’
He added, “The recent reform of customs legislation and administration offers opportunities to provide for simpler application through the progressive introduction of advanced and secure ICT system. This could make a major contribution to helping business drive competitiveness and growth both in the EU and in the countries with which we trade.”
Shared Views
In an announcement made before the European Parliament adoption of the report, EuroCommerce said it shared much of the Parliament’s views, in particular:
- Fair taxation for all players, and removing the small consignments VAT and duty exemption for non-EU imports
- Ensuring appropriate action against non-conforming and unsafe products sold online
- Clarifying legal issues around use of customer and sales data, and other competition issues in B2B relations.
EuroCommerce also called for the elimination of the distortion in trade, cause by the ‘artificially low cost of parcel fees for goods shipped from some third countries’.
EuroCommerce recently set out its positive position on the EU Commission’s mid-term review of the EU Digital Single Market strategy, but called on them for continued progress on areas such as the regulation of e-commerce.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
