# Commission Implementing Decision of 29 April 2014 establishing the Work Programme for the Union Customs Code (2014/255/EU)

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U.K.

# Commission Implementing Decision

# of 29 April 2014

# establishing the Work Programme for the Union Customs Code

# (2014/255/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the                           Union Customs Code(1), and in particular Article 281 thereof,                        

Whereas:

(1)Article 280 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Code’) provides                              that the Commission is to draw up a work programme relating the development and deployment of the electronic systems. The                              work programme is in particular important for the establishment of the transitional measures related to the electronic systems                              and the timing for the cases where systems are not yet operational by the date of application of the Code, i.e. 1 May 2016.

(2)The Code provides that all exchange of information between customs authorities and between economic operators and customs                              authorities and storage of such information is to be made using electronic data processing techniques and that information                              and communication systems are to offer the same facilities to economic operators in all Member States. The work programme                              should therefore set out an extensive plan for the implementation of electronic systems in order to ensure the correct application                              of the Code.

(3)Accordingly, the work programme should contain a list of the electronic systems which should be developed by the Member States                              and the Commission, in close cooperation, in order for the Code to become applicable in practice. That list is based on the                              existing planning document related to all IT related customs projects, called the multi-annual strategic plan (‘MASP’), which                              is drawn up in accordance with Decision No 70/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) and in particular Article 4 and Article 8(2) thereof. The electronic systems referred to in the work programme should be                              subject to the same project management approach and prepared and developed as established in the MASP.

(4)The work programme should define and describe the electronic systems as well as the related legal basis, the key milestones                              and the envisaged dates for starting operations. These dates should be referred to as ‘target start dates of deployment’.                              The date of deployment of the electronic systems should constitute the target end date of the transitional period.

(5)The electronic systems referred to in the work programme should be selected in view of their expected impact in terms of the                              priorities defined in the Code. One of the main priorities in this regard is to be able to offer economic operators a wide                              range of electronic customs services throughout the customs territory of the Union. Furthermore, the electronic systems should                              aim at enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness and harmonisation of customs processes across the Union. The order of and the                              timetable for the deployment of the systems included in the work programme should be based on practical and project management                              considerations such as the spreading of efforts and resources, the interconnection between the projects, the specific prerequisites                              of each system and the project maturity. As such, the work programme aims to plan and manage the development of the electronic                              systems in a proper and staged manner.

(6)As the electronic systems referred to in Article 16(1) of the Code are to be developed, deployed and maintained by the Member                              States, in cooperation with the Commission, the Commission and the Member States should work together to ensure that the preparation                              and implementation of the electronic systems are managed in line with the work programme and that appropriate measures are                              taken to plan, design, develop and deploy the systems identified in a coordinated and timely manner.

(7)In order to ensure synchronicity between the work programme and the MASP the work programme should be updated at the same                              time as the MASP.

(8)The measures provided for in this decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

## Article 1U.K.Subject matter

This Decision lays down the work programme as provided for in Article 280(1) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the                     Union Customs Code (‘the Code’).                  

The work programme is annexed to this Decision.

## Article 2U.K.Implementation

1.The Commission and the Member States shall take the necessary actions to cooperate and implement the work programme.                  

2.The projects specified in the work programme and the preparation and implementation of the related electronic systems shall                        be managed in a manner consistent with the work programme.                  

3.The Commission shall undertake to search for a common understanding and agreement with the Member States on the project scope,                        design, requirements and architecture of the electronic systems in order to initiate the projects of the work programme. Where                        relevant, the Commission shall also consult and take the views of the economic operators into account.                  

## Article 3U.K.Updates

1.The work programme shall be subject to regular updates in order to ensure alignment and adjustments with the latest developments                        in the implementation of the Code and to take into account the actual progress made in the preparation and development of                        the electronic systems, and in particular as regards the availability of commonly agreed specifications and the realisation                        of the entering into operation of the electronic systems.                  

2.In order to ensure synchronicity between the work programme and the multi-annual strategic plan (‘MASP’) the work programme                        shall be updated at least every year.                  

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the *Official Journal of the European Union*.                  

Done at Brussels, 29 April 2014.

*For the Commission*                            

*The President*                            

José Manuel Barroso                            

## ANNEXU.K.THE WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE UNION CUSTOMS CODE

### I.**Introduction to the work programme**U.K.

The purpose of the work programme is to provide for an instrument to support the application of the Code relating to the development                     and deployment of the electronic systems.                  

The work programme will support the development of the electronic systems required by Article 6(1) and govern the setting                     up of transitional periods as referred to in Article 278 of the Code. The work programme relates to the necessary cooperation                     between the Commission and the Member States in the development and deployment of the electronic systems according to what                     is provided for in Article 16(1) of the Code.                  

The work programme shall be understood as follows:

It relates to the development and deployment of the electronic systems referred to in Article 16(1) of the Code;

It takes into consideration the priorities defined in Article 280(2) of the Code;

It lists the electronic systems referred to in Article 16(1) which are necessary for the application of the provisions of                              the Code and for which a transitional period is to be envisaged, from the date of application of the Code but not beyond 31                              December 2020;                           

It specifies per project:

a high level description of the project and the related electronic system;

the legal basis for the electronic system (related legal provisions of the Code);

the key milestone in terms of target date of the technical specifications, to be understood as the completion date of the                                       stable technical specifications, updated and available to the Member States after review;                                    

the envisaged operational date of the electronic system, referred to as the target start date of deployment of the electronic                                       system, being equal to the end date of the transitional period.                                    

The description of the electronic systems in the work programme is based on the requirements for those systems, which can                     be derived from the descriptions in the Code, at the time of drawing up the work programme.                  

In order to implement the work programme, the Commission will initiate the specific projects related to electronic systems                     by means of business analysis activities in close collaboration with the Member States. In view of the further elaboration                     into the IT technical part of the projects, the Commission will, in close cooperation with the Member States, define common                     specifications for the envisaged electronic systems. The Member States and the Commission will ensure the development and                     deployment of the systems, including testing and migration activities, in line with the defined system architecture and specifications.                     The Commission and the Member States will also collaborate with other stakeholders such as the economic operators.                  

The projects will be rolled out in different phases from elaboration to construction, testing and migration to final operation.                     The role of the Commission and the Member States in these different phases will depend on the nature and architecture of the                     systems and its components or services as described in the detailed project fiches of the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (‘MASP’).                     Where appropriate, common technical specifications will be defined by the Commission, in close cooperation with and subject                     to review with the Member States, with a view to provide them 24 months prior to the target start date of deployment of the                     electronic system.                  

The Member States and the Commission will engage in the development and deployment of the systems, including implementation                     support activities such as training and communication activities. The activities will be carried out in respect of the milestones                     and dates stated in the work programme. The economic operators will to take the necessary steps to be able to make use of                     the systems once in place.                  

### II.**The work programme (for the Union Customs Code)**U.K.

#### *Figure***Graphical Overview**U.K.

1

OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1.                           

2

Decision No 70/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on a paperless environment for customs                              and trade (OJ L 23, 26.1.2008, p. 21).