Resolution of the EC-EFTA Joint Committee on common transit of 2 December 1999 on the reform of the common transit system
Date: 1999-12-02
Institutions: EC–EFTA Joint Committee
Subjects: EFTA countries, Union transit, agreement (EU)

C 42/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

15.2.2000

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EC-EFTA JOINT COMMITTEE

RESOLUTION OF THE EC-EFTA JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMON TRANSIT

of 2 December 1999

on the reform of the common transit system

(2000/C 42/04)

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,

transit
transit operations,
vigorously despite the measures already taken.

refom must be continued

Having regard to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a
common transit procedure (1),

Whereas:

(1) The common transit procedure has developed, for both
economic operators and customs administations, into an
instrument of commercial policy essential for facilitating
and managing the huge growth of international trade in
goods. This system, under which goods can be dispatched
between the Community customs territory and EFTA
formalities and with
countries with a minimum of
customs duties and national charges
suspended, has
proved its worth.

(2) The constant increase in the volume of traffic arising from
the process of globalisation and the opening of borders
with the countries of central and eastern Europe and the
planned extension of
system to
further countries in that part of Europe mean that this
system will become increasingly important in future. The
customs administrations of
concerned
currently process nearly 20 million transit operations
each year on the basis of single administrative documents.

the common transit

countries

the

(3) The common transit procedure has been fraudulently
exploited by international
in
particular in operations involving sensitive and heavily
(cigarettes, alcohol, meat, milk powder,
taxed goods
sugar, etc.) sent by road.

criminal organisations,

(4) Problems with fraud led to the early adoption of special
measures that have already made economic operators and
customs administrations considerably more alert to the
risks and have helped curb abuse of the common transit
system.

(6) The proposals made by the Commission on the basis of
its action plan for transit in Europe (2) are the main bases
for the measures needed to ensure more efficient conduct
of transit procedures.

(7) In the light of previous experience in implementing the
action plan, and taking into consideration the adoption by
the Joint Committee of Decisions Nos 1/99 (3) and
2/99 (4) on the part of
the transit reform concerning
NCTS, further efforts aimed at legislative and operational
measures and computerisation of
system
should be spelled out in detail, so that further practical
progress can be made as quickly as possible in all
countries concerned.

the transit

(8) In the interests of both economic operators and customs
administrations, reform of
the common transit system
should as far as possible go hand in hand with reform
of the Community transit procedure.

(9) Changes in the legal requirements of these very different
spheres are to be based on a thorough analysis of the
actual situation and new conditions determined by the
practical experience acquired. The general rule should be
that the quality of the new provisions should receive first
priority.

(10) The operational measures put

in hand require further
joint efforts if progress is to made towards

consistent
the aim set out in the action plan.

(11) Computerisation of the common transit system should be
achieved as soon as possible in all countries concerned,

(5) In view of the deficiencies that have in practice occurred
in applying the system because of the large number of

(2) Commission communication to the European Parliament and the
Council entitled (cid:145)Action plan for transit in Europe: A new customs
policy(cid:146) (OJ C 176, 10.6.1997, p. 3).

(1) OJ L 226, 13.8.1987, p. 2.

(3) OJ L 65, 12.3.1999, p. 50.
(4) OJ L 119, 7.5.1999, p. 53.

15.2.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 42/5

CONFIRMS

that the common transit procedure is vital to the achievement
of an efficient economic structure in Europe and that it must
therefore be ensured that it functions effectively in a secure and
controllable environment;

NOTES WITH SATISFACTION

that considerable progress has been made, particularly in the
legislative area, in the reform of the common transit system. In
this context, the Joint Committee takes note of the work of the
Working Group regarding draft Decisions No 1/2000 (common
transit) and No 1/2000 (simplification of formalities in trade
implementing further important parts of the reform
goods)
should be finished soon;

UNDERLINES

the necessity of adopting the said draft Decisions as quickly as
possible, if necessary by means of the written procedure, in
order to ensure their application within the scheduled dead-
lines;

AGREES

of legislative and harmonised operational measures together
with rapid computerisation throughout all countries where
common transit applies, with a view to achieving uniform
application of the rules by economic operators and customs
administrations;

(cid:151) that the necessary legislative steps and uniform operational
measures, making for harmonised application of
the
relevant provisions by economic operators and customs
administrations, should be taken in accordance with the
appropriate degree of urgency;

INVITES

(cid:151) the Working Group,

taking into account

the above
mentioned aims of reform of the common transit system,
to proceed apace in partnership with the customs adminis-
trations of the countries concerned and in dialogue with
uniform
business,
application of the transit rules and timely introduction of
the necessary legislative changes;

to measures

priority

giving

for

(cid:151) the countries concerned,

actively to the reform of
taking due
accordingly to:

account of

their part,

for
to contribute
the common transit system,
and

the views of business,

(cid:151) that reform of the common transit system should ensure its
to facilitate cross-border
in order to continue the fight
fraud, a sufficiently secure

continuation as an instrument
goods traffic as well as,
against and prevention of
system of suspending duties;

(cid:151) continue to give priority to transit reform,

(cid:151) take appropriate operational measures to ensure the
proper functioning of the common transit system;

(cid:151) that reform of the common transit system must proceed,
taking due consideration of the views of business, by means

(cid:151) take the necessary steps to ensure rapid computerisation

of the common transit system.