The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Ivan ŠTEFANEC (EPP, SK) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Union Single Window Environment for Customs
and amending Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
The proposal aims to establish a harmonised and interoperable EU single window environment for customs. It provides for the creation of a central system at EU level for the interconnection of national customs single window environments and non-customs systems in the EU, enabling digital cooperation between regulatory authorities involved in the clearance of goods.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, would continue to design, operate and maintain the central electronic system (EU CSW-CERTEX) to facilitate the exchange of data between all actors involved in the clearance of goods.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:
Extension of the scope of non-customs formalities covered by the EU CSW-CERTEX system
The proposal should support interaction and intensify the exchange of information between the national Single Window environments for customs and the non-customs systems of the Union referred to in Annex I, Part A and Annex I, Part B containing the list of systems that may be used on a voluntary basis by Member States and that are to be connected by 2023.
The EU CSW-CERTEX system would initially cover sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, rules governing the import of biological products, environmental requirements relating to fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, and formalities relating to the import of cultural goods.
It should also cover, on a voluntary basis, rules on product safety (RAPEX), export controls on dual-use goods, international trade in endangered wildlife (CITES), international trade in rough diamonds, forest law enforcement, shipments of waste, governance, trade, and the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH)
The Commission should adopt delegated acts amending the lists of non-customs systems in the Union mentioned in Annex I.
Interoperability and harmonisation of systems
Members considered that it is necessary to achieve effective interoperability and standardisation of electronic systems. These systems should be based on uniform technical specifications set by the Commission. These should provide common data sets for all applications, declarations and notifications, for an interoperable and common IT solution, and ensure that decisions issued by national administrations are valid throughout the Union.
The Commission should provide training and support to the teams working on the creation, design and maintenance of national single window environments for customs.
Data processing
Any processing of personal and non-personal data in the EU CSW-CERTEX system should be without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR) and the principles set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/1807 on the free flow of non-personal data. It should be carried out in a safe, secure environment protected from cyber threats.
Working group
Members proposed setting up a working group - composed of representatives of the Commission and national coordinators - to discuss, at technical level, the progress of the implementation of the national Single Window environments for customs. They also suggested that other customs and non-customs formalities be added to the EU Single Window environment and the EU CSW-CERTEX system.
National coordinators
Members suggested that the list of tasks mandated to the national coordinator for the EU single window environment for customs should be extended to include the obligation to follow on the uniform adoption of technical specifications for the national single window environment.
Multi-annual strategic plan for customs (MASP-C)
In the interests of consistency and coordination between the EU Customs Code and this regulation, Members considered it necessary to include the Multiannual Strategic Plan for Electronic Customs (MASP-C), which should provide for the development of electronic customs systems at European level, with a view to creating a European electronic customs environment.
Data sharing
Member States should aggregate, where possible, relevant non-personal data collected through the use of national Single Window environments for Customs and, where possible and secure, share such data with software developers or equipment producers.
Cybersecurity framework
The Commission should ensure that the EU-CSW-CERTEX system is developed and designed with a high level of cyber security and includes fail-safe tools. Member States should ensure that national Single Window environments for customs are safe, secure and protected from cyber threats.
Work programme
The work programme should be reviewed and updated regularly, at least once every three years, in order to assess and improve overall implementation of this Regulation. By 31 December 2026 and every three years thereafter, the Commission should submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the implementation of this Regulation.