COMMISSION DECISION  of 13 December 1991  prescribing certain provisions of implementation for the Council Decision of 20 June 1991 on the adoption of a programme of Community action for the vocational training of customs officials undergoing  initial training (the Matthaeus programme)  (92/39/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 91/341/EEC of 20 June 1991 on the adoption of a programme of Community action on the subject of the vocational training of customs officials (Matthaeus programme) (1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,
Whereas, pursuant to Article 4 (c) of the abovementioned Decision, the Commission is required to introduce common training programmes for customs officials;
Whereas these common programmes are essential in order to achieve the objectives pursued by the Matthaeus programme and, in particular, the uniform application of Community law at the external frontiers of the Community;
Whereas these common programmes are rendered necessary by the diversity of education given in the Member State customs schools;
Whereas it is essential to introduce as a priority a common training programme for officials in initial training; whereas this programme shall include customs subjects as a whole and the principles of the common commercial and agricultural policies, as  well as the principles of indirect taxation by reason of the close ties existing between Community customs law and all these disciplines;
Whereas some international conventions constitute an important source of Community law and that consequently it is essential that customs officials are acquainted with the provisions inherent in these conventions and their impact on Community law;
Whereas it is essential that this programme allocates a large area to education on the European Communities and their foundations, as customs officials are increasingly required to act on behalf of the Community as a whole;
Whereas this common programme will constitute a unified approach to customs training and will contribute towards accelerating the awareness of customs officials of the increasing Community dimension to their tasks;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Matthaeus Committee,
A common programme of vocational training, hereinafter referred to as the 'common programme', for customs officials and the contents of which are specified in the attached Annex, will be organized in the customs schools of the Member States.
In the context of the present decision, the following meanings shall apply:
1. customs school: any establishment in which vocational training is given to customs officials;
2. officials in the initial stage of training: those officials beginning their career or moving into a new grade and those already in the service, but who have worked in the relevant area for less than five years.
The common programme is intended for customs officials who are responsible for the application of Community law whatever their workplace.
1. All officials in an initial stage of training are affected by the common programme.
2. For officials who have completed their initial training, national administrations shall include in continuous training seminars those aspects of the common training programme which are still necessary.
The teaching of the common training programme shall be spread over a period corresponding to the initial training period in each national customs administration. For those customs administrations which do not presently have a period of  initial training, this period must not exceed three years.
Each Member State shall notify the Commission the provisions and implementation procedures adopted for the implementation of the common training programme.
The implementation of the common programme does not preclude the implementation of complementary national programmes in customs schools.
Member States shall bring the common programmes into force from 1 January 1992.
This Decision is adressed to the Member States.