WRITTEN QUESTION E-1050/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Own resources including transport system

Has the change in Commission Regulation (EEC) 2454/93(1) relating to the transit regime that took effect from 1 July 2001 had a measurable effect on reducing fraud within the transit system?

Can the Commission confirm that the new computerised transit system (NCTS) will be online in all customs offices that handle transit movements in all EEA countries, accession countries and Member States with effect from 1 July 2003?

Given that it was excise products that caused significant amounts of fraud in the transit regime, could the Commission please explain why it wishes to use EUR 35 million of Community resources to develop a separate computerised movement and surveillance system for excise products(2), when it has already developed the new computerised transit system over the past eight years as a measure to reduce fraud?

(1) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1.

(2) COM(2001) 466 final, OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002, p. 372.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Whilst Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000(1) has the overall aim of fighting irregularities, not all of its parts have a direct effect on reducing fraud. Such effects may exist

insofar as the operator's responsibilities are more clearly defined in law, but they are not measurable. For other elements, such as the improved structure of administrative management of the system, of which some parts are only applicable since the beginning of 2002, it is still too early to make an evaluation.

Considerable efforts have been and are being made by the Commission to assure timely introduction of the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). It has provided all the necessary central support such as common software, a help-desk, hosting co-ordination meetings, running seminars and workshops, etc. In addition, every opportunity has been taken in its contact with Member States to insist on the importance of granting the necessary priority to the NCTS.

In May 2001 the Commission organised a demonstration of the NCTS projects for which representatives of the Parliament and Member States were invited. Only recently the Member of the Commission responsible for the Internal Market, Taxation and the Customs Union has raised the issue by letter to the Finance Ministers of the Member States and within the Internal Market Council. Parliament has especially been kept informed by letter of the above-mentioned Member of the Commission to Mr Cox, President of the Parliament and Mrs Theato, Chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control. The Commission has fulfilled all its legislative and technical obligations. It is urging Member States and traders to fulfil the obligations on their part to make NCTS fully operational.

Feedback received so far from the Finance Ministers indicated that they will meet the target date of 1 July 2003 for introducing NCTS as set out in the Customs 2002 decision.

The Commission has furthermore, taken all the appropriate actions in order to get the system operational by the same date in all the countries which are contracting party to the Convention on common transit. Although for the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic) no legal obligation exists, they have declared to be ready at the same time.

While the objectives of the NCTS and the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) contain the fight against fraud in the area of sensitive and excisable goods, both systems have as well specific objectives, have different legal bases and administrative arrangements. They are also managed separately in the Member States. However, the Commission is committed to maximise the commonality between the two systems in order to ensure their interoperability where necessary, to minimise the costs incurred by the trader community in using both systems, to minimise the risks associated to the implementation of EMCS, to minimise its set up and operation costs. The EUR 35 million budget proposal takes already advantage of budget offsets resulting from commonalties such as project management and elements of infrastructure. However, it covers all the necessary EMCS specific activities related to specification, development, operation and maintenance, co-ordination & support for the next five years with the aim to achieve the full deployment of EMCS across the Community by this time.

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 of 15 December 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code, OJ L 330, 27.12.2000.