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Action programme for customs (Customs 2020), 2014-2020

2011/0341A(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 585 votes to 18, with 4 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the amended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme for customs in the European Union for the period 2014-2020 (Customs 2020) and repealing Decision No 624/2007/EC.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Programme objectives: Parliament stated that the general objective of the Programme should be support the functioning and modernisation of the customs union in order to strengthen the internal market by means of cooperation between participating countries, their customs authorities and their officials.

The specific objectives shall be to: (i) support customs authorities in protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union and of the Member States, including the fight against fraud and the protection of intellectual property rights; (ii) increase safety and security; (iii) protect citizens and the environment; (iv) improve the administrative capacity of the customs authorities and; (v) strengthen the competitiveness of European businesses.

At the operational level, Customs 2020 should: 

  • support the preparation, coherent application and effective implementation of Union law and policy in the field of customs;
  • develop, improve, operate and support the European Information Systems for customs;
  • identify, develop, share and apply best working practices and administrative procedures, in particular further to benchmarking activities;
  • reinforce the skills and competences of customs officials;
  • improve cooperation between customs authorities and international organisations, third countries, other governmental authorities, including Union and national market surveillance authorities, as well as economic operators and organisations representing economic operators.

Financial Framework: the financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2014-2020 is set at EUR 522 943 000 in current prices. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.

The indicative allocation of funds to eligible actions is the following:

  • Joint actions: maximum 20%;
  • IT capacity building: at least 75%;
  • Human competency building: maximum 5%.

Union financial support for eligible actions shall take the form of: (a) grants; (b) public procurement contracts; (c) reimbursement of costs incurred by the external experts.

Delegated acts: in order to respond appropriately to changes in policy priorities, the power to adopt acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending the list of indicators to measure the achievement of the specific objectives and modifying the indicative amounts allocated to each type of action.