Trader Participation in the EU Customs Decision-Making Process: Is There Room for Improvement?

摘要

EU measures on customs-related matters can have a direct impact on the daily business operations of economic operators and can result in serious consequences for traders, both on the financial front and on their supply-chain operations. However, economic operators may become aware of these new measures and their consequences only when such measures have already been adopted and their application is imminent. Traders may then wish that they had participated in the decision-making process, sharing their views with the EU institutions before the measures were adopted. The author sets out how traders can recognize relevant customs developments at an early stage in the adoption process. He then identifies the main players in the institutional framework involved in the adoption of customs measures. Finally, the author examines how traders can participate in the EU customs decision-making process and, in particular, whether improvements to the existing participation procedures are needed.