Regulation (EU) 2019/474

What it is

PURPOSE : to make technical amendments to the Union Customs Code (UCC) to ensure that the Code meets its objectives of improving the competitiveness of European businesses, but also better protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union and the Member States and the safety and security of EU consumers. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: following the entry into force of the new substantial provisions of the Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council laying down Union Customs Code (UCC) in May 2016, the process of regular consultation with Member States and business has resulted in the identification of errors and technical anomalies that need to be corrected in order to ensure legal certainty and consistency. The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Jasenko SELIMOVIC (ALDE, SE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code. The committee recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal . The proposal aims to make technical amendments to the Union Customs Code (UCC) to ensure that the Code meets its objectives of improving the competitiveness of European businesses, but also better protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union and the Member States and the safety and security of EU consumers. The Commission proposes to amend the EU Customs Code in order to correct these technical errors and omissions, including the alignment harmonisation of the UCC with an international agreement that was not in force at the time of adoption of the Code, the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). In addition, the proposal aims to respond to a request from Italy to include the Italian municipality of Campione d'Italia and the Italian waters of Lake Lugano in the customs territory of the Union. The European Parliament adopted by 520 votes to 29, with 48 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code. Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure. The proposal makes technical amendments to the Union Customs Code (UCC) to ensure that the Code meets its objectives of improving the competitiveness of European businesses, but also better protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union and the Member States and the safety and security of EU consumers. The amendments introduced aim to (i) implement the basic objectives of enabling the Customs Union to function effectively and to implement the common commercial policy, (ii) solve a number of technical issues that have been identified in the implementation of the Code since its entry into force and (iii) align the Code…

Frequently asked