Brussels, 24/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations under way with the United States on container security could be concluded within two to three months, the Director General for Customs at the Commission, Robert Verrue, said on Thursday. A working group including the Commission, Member States and US representatives could be set in place "in coming weeks" to prepare practical measures for implementation of the agreement, he announced. The group is mainly expected to tackle the question of assessment and risk management, as well as the rules on exchange of data, he explained. He stressed that the EU insists the agreement should be based on "reciprocity".
In the spring, the Commission began negotiations with the United States to intensify customs cooperation and information exchange with regards security control on goods transported by container. The future agreement is to replace the bilateral agreements concluded by the United States with several Member States after the attacks of 11 September. These agreements mainly allow US customs officers to take part in inspections in European ports before the goods containers depart for the United States. Considering that these agreements, which facilitate exports from signatory countries, create competition distortion between Member States, the Commission opened infringement proceedings in March against Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.