19/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - “I am very pleased about the quick and timely adoption of the Customs 2013 programme. It will contribute to enhancing cooperation between customs administrations. The programme aims at contributing to the simplification and speeding up of procedures, facilitating legitimate trade, and supporting the fight against customs fraud”, said Commissioner László Kovács, responsible for customs union, in a press release. The release was issued after the Council's adoption earlier in the week of the decision to renew the Community customs action programme for six years (see EUROPE 9408). The programme will help member states to combat customs fraud and to cut compliance costs for traders. It will promote new security policy initiatives, the implementation of modernisation of the customs code, and the introduction of a pan-European paperless customs environment. It will also contribute to the development and management of the trans-European IT customs systems such as the Integrated Community Tariff (TARIC). (mb)