Grainger, A (2004) A Paperless Trade and Customs Environment in Europe : Turning Vision into Reality , A EUROPRO Paper, June 2004 [PDF: Download , 205kb]

Abstract 

A paperless trade and Customs environment brings real benefits for both business and governments. Increasing internationalisation of business and supply chain security considerations increase pressure for the automation of trade and customs procedures. The European Commission has recently developed a vision for a paperless trade and Customs environment. It argues that implementing this vision, although a major task, would finalise the historic move towards a fully integrated Customs Union. The challenge of implementing the vision requires a high degree of coordination between the Commission, Member State governments and business stakeholders. The economic prize of modernisation through trade facilitation and requirements for more effective security controls should drive both business and political initiatives. Success requires a detailed understanding of strategic and operational issues at both business and government level. This paper examines how that vision can be turned into a reality.

 Further Information:

• European Commission (2003) A simple and paperless environment for Customs and Trade [Download , 372kb]
• Andrew Grainger (2005) eCustoms: Speach on behalf of European Business , High-level [EU Commission] seminar on the Implementation of the Multi-annual Strategic Plan for eCustoms, Poland: Wroclaw, 6 April 2005
  

• SITPRO Paper (2007) Putting European Competitiveness at the Heart of 21st Century Electronic Trading