Brussels, 08/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 July, the European Commission presented two proposals to ease custom formalities for ships and cut delays in ports for ships making regular journeys between EU ports or calling in at non-EU ports.
These measures are part of the “Blue Belt” pilot project and the action plan for European ports presented by the Commission last May (see EUROPE 10851). The aim is to extend the practical advantages of the single market to maritime transport and make it more attractive by putting it on the same level as other modes of transport and by reducing as much as possible the restrictions and costs resulting from administrative and customs formalities.
Shipping companies using a regular route within the EU and transporting mainly EU goods already benefit from lighter customs procedures (EU Regulation 177/2010) and will further benefit from authorisation to make the procedures, shorter and more flexible. The time allowed member states to deliver thier authorisation will be shortened from 45 to 15 days. Companies will also be able to apply in advance for an authorisation for member states where they may want to do business. In the context of easing customs formalities for ships that call in third country ports (almost 90% of ships stop frequently at EU and non-EU ports), the Commission is proposing a harmonised electronic cargo declaration or “eManifest”. Based on the current FAL form, which is updated at each port of call, this mechanism, if the measure adopted without any problems, is expected to help distinguish from 2015, goods coming from EU countries (which do not need to be subject to customs) from those in third countries, for which the usual formalities are necessary (docking). This will speed up ships passing through customs.
The Commissioner responsible for transport and customs, Algirdas Semeta, explained that these measures should help companies to gain time and money by cutting down the work undertaken by the customs (36.8% of goods are transported by maritime transport in the EU). Customs will therefore be able to concentrate on goods coming from outside the EU and which present specific risks (contraband, counterfeit products, non-declared and illegal products, etc.). The Commission will provide a report for the Council and EP in the middle of 2016 on the way the “Blue Belt” initiative is working and its impact.
The European Seaports Organisation (ESPO) responded positively to this initiative and its secretary general, Patrick Verhoeven stated that “we will attempt to make a special contribution to defining and applying the e-Manifest. Its data, operational functionalities and procedures will be closely analysed to ensure integration into port operations and procedures”. (FG/trans.fl)