Brussels, 13/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 December, the European Parliament adopted three reports on a modernised EU Customs Code (see EUROPE 9079, 9194): - two reports by Janelly Fourtou (ALDE, France) on the Community Customs Code and on the Customs 2013 action programme, and the report by Christopher Heaton-Harris (EPP-ED, UK) on a paperless customs and trade environment (“eCustoms”). Generally speaking, MEPs agree with the overall Commission approach, the stakes that it raises being almost the same as those discussed during the Competitiveness Council on 4 December (see EUROPE 9320). In favour of liberalising the profession of customs representative, they nonetheless specify the criteria that need to be met in order to acquire customs representative status. The Customs 2013 programme and the “eCustoms” decision - the latter not being the subject of any amendment on the part of the EP - should be adopted during first reading according to codecision procedure.
Speaking on Monday 11 December, Ms Fourtou said that, until now, under national legislation, the right of representation could be reserved to a specific professional category. In the context of the single market and the electronic environment, however, this monopoly can no longer exist. The right of customs representation must therefore be opened to all, she said. Nonetheless, given national traditions and the usefulness of customs agents for small companies, MEPs adopted an amendment providing for the customs representative status to be subject to practical standards of competence or professional qualifications recognised in all Member States, which feel it is difficult to accept abolition of this monopoly - for example, as requested by France.
Laszlo Kovacs stressed the importance of modernising the Community customs system to adjust it to an electronic environment and to developments in the sector, now more centred on application of non-tariff measures (protection of trade and consumer security, combating counterfeiting). On customs representation, he restated the Commission's position whereby accreditation of the profession of customs agent must not be covered by the Community customs code. (mb)