On Tuesday 24 May 2016, 250 business leaders gathered at the Chamber of Commerse for the launch of the new "Fit4Customs" conference cycle organised by Enterprise Europe Network in collaboration with Customs and Excise.

The event focused on the customs union as one of the pillars of the European Union and a key element in the single market. In order to continue to guarantee the flow of all international trade and make the necessary checks to protect the health and safety of EU citizens, customs procedures and control methods must be modernised and cooperation between various actors and services enhanced.

The new Union Customs Code forms part of this modernisation process, providing facilitations for operators and the simplification of customs procedures for companies. Customs are therefore aiming to raise awareness at the European level to benefit the operators of these procedures established by the UCC. Adopted on 9 October 2013, it provides the framework regulation on customs rules and procedures throughout the EU territory. Substantive provisions for delegated and enforcement regulations, which aim to adapt EU legislation to developments in international trade, will apply from 1 May 2016.

CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Carlo Thelen, stated that the Chamber welcomes the establishment of lighter legislature that would prover simpler and cheaper for companies which he suggested would help further the development of business activities abroad.

"This modernisation will allow business leaders to facilitate their trade abroad and to speed up procedures through the establishment of a range of electronic interfaces operating on the base of a common technology," Mr. Thelen stated.

"Rather than a legal obligation of adequate implementation, the CDU is a real opportunity to make Luxembourg an attractive logistics platform in terms of import, export and transit and to make our national one of the most attractive, performant and competitive in the context of the European Union," Customs and Excise director, Alain Bellot, commented, before continuing: "Its will on the protection of consumers having been confirmed, Customs and Excise is currently implementing an internal structural reorganisation particularly to better meet the requirements of the CDU and to perfect its role as simplified-facilitator in the interest of the national and community economy."

Meanwhile Susanne Aigner, Head of Unit in charge of the customs legislation with the TAXUD Directorate General of the European Commission, highlighted the fact that the European Customs Union enables over €3 trillion in merchandise to circulate within and outside of the EU each year.

After an opening session in the morning, the companies present participated in two workshops: one, presented by Marc Duhr, Senior Inspector with Customs and Excise, focused in-depth on topics related to import, export, simplifications and special regulations; whilst a second, moderated by Jean-Claude Nilles, 1st ranking Senior Inspector from Customs and Excise, was dedicated to rates, sources and tariffs.

The Chamber of Commerce announced that it is mobilised at various levels in order to support the efficiency of Luxembourg companies, particularly with regards to SMEs and micro-businesses.

"As part of its Enterprise Europe Network activities, this support results in the implementation of European support services ranging from quality technical assistance in the most varied European affairs to raising awareness among Luxembourg companies on the most important areas of the European business policy," continued Carlo Thelen. "Through the organisation of commuity conferences, like today's, of guided visits to foreign specialised fairs or event of meeting platforms between companies, the missions pursed by the Enterprise Europe Network of the Chamber of Commerce aim to help business heads to penetrate foreign markets and allow them to further integrate the European dimension in their international development strategy."

The FIT4Customs lecture series will continue in 2017.

 

Photo by Chamber of Commerce