This joint industry and trade statement on the EU Customs Reform, dated December 2024, expresses support for the reform’s concept. The signatory trade associations believe the reform is crucial and urgent for Europe’s competitiveness and security, aiming to facilitate trade and prevent economic inefficiencies while enhancing security without compromising legitimate trade. The objective is a modern, unified customs union in partnership with the private sector.
The statement recommends the completion of the current Union Customs Code (UCC) legislation by its legally mandated deadline of December 31, 2025. It urges the European Commission to provide a realistic plan to ensure full deployment of IT systems and uniform application of customs rules across all EU27 Member States in a digital environment, addressing concerns about member states not being ready.
Furthermore, the signatories endorse the concept of a centralized EU Customs Data Hub, which aims to simplify and harmonize data submission and reduce administrative burdens. They emphasize that the Hub should improve customs efficiency, eliminate data duplication, and be accessible to all actors while safeguarding business interests, especially those of SMEs. The security of business-sensitive data is highlighted as a key priority, and a call is made to reconsider the trend of increasing data requirements to avoid further challenges.
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