Publication

Customs procedures across the EU are increasingly tied up in red tape. Member States now all have electronic customs systems but they have yet to be inter-connected. The European Commission has put forward two proposals for modernising the EU Customs Code and introducing an electronic, paper-free customs environment, but it remains far from clear that this will simplify customs procedures and improve information exchange. Can existing border control systems be made compatible, and sensitive data really be secure? What must EU and national policymakers do to ensure the right balance between security and privacy?