Press Release: Modernising customs procedures: European Commission welcomes adoption of Customs 2013 Programme by Council

The European Commission welcomes the adoption by the Council of the Customs 2013 programme (see IP/06/639) for the period 2008 - end 2013. The new programme aims at helping Member States to better combat customs fraud and to cut compliance costs for traders. It will support new security policy initiatives, the implementation of modernisation of the customs code, and the introduction of a pan-European paperless customs environment (see IP/05/1501). It will also contribute to the development and management of the trans European IT customs systems such as the Integrated Community Tariff (TARIC).