Enhancing customs controls to prevent circumvention of international sanctions

ongoing

The main objective is to enhance the implementation of sanctions, restrictions and prohibitions, particularly targeting Russia and Belarus. The effectiveness of this implementation will depend on the extent of correct and uniform control practices across the Customs Union. Currently, Customs authorities in the EU are not fully prepared to implement and enforce these measures. Divergent customs control practices among EU Member States complicate the uniform and correct implementation of measures agreed at EU level. Despite progress made through previous Agreements (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Croatia signed “Memorandum of understanding on common approach to ensure uniform customs controls and information exchange for implementation of the EU restrictive measures”. Alignment of customs controls: 1. Illogical route detection, 2. Additional documentation, 3. Manufacturer’s declaration, 4. Enforcement of certain provisions of UCC, 5. Information Exchange (via RIFs, CRMS2), the core problems persist across the Union, including in the six Customs Administrations that requested technical support: Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Croatia, Denmark. This support would enable effective, harmonised implementation of the EU restrictive measures, in line with the existing legal framework governing EU restrictive measures, EU customs legislation, the EU risk management framework for customs, and existing tools and guidance. It therefore supports EU policy in the areas of customs, trade, sanctions. The project will take inspiration from measures in the ‘agreement on regional approach to ensure uniform customs controls and information exchange for implementation of the EU restrictive measures’ that was signed in 2024 by Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland and Croatia and the Commission guidance on Common approach to risks and controls related to sanctions to Russia and Belarus.