BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (KUNA) -- The European Commission Monday launched a new Customs Union Action Plan to make EU customs efficient over the next four years.
Presenting the plan at an online press conference in Brussels, Paolo Gentiloni, EU Commissioner for Economy, said: "The EU Customs Union was one of the first concrete achievements of European integration and for more than five decades it has helped to protect Europeans and keep trade flowing across our borders." He noted that the EU Customs Union - which in 2018 celebrated its 50th anniversary - forms a single territory for customs purposes, where a common set of rules are applied.
"We will enhance our customs cooperation with major international trade partners such as China. This will support our efforts to facilitate trade and, at the same time, ensure effective controls," he said.
Indeed, maintaining and accelerating flows of legitimate trade through customs will help support our economic recovery from the current coronavirus crisis while contributing to future growth, he said.
Last year, EU customs treated imports and exports worth 330 billion euros (USD 384 billion) per month, that's 15.3 percent of world trade in imports and 15.8 percent of world exports, added the EU official. (end) nk.bs