The participants of the briefing noted the significant progress of Ukraine in implementing the rules of the Convention on the procedure of common transit and NCTS and what is expected from Ukraine for successful accession to the system.

Currently, a preliminary assessment mission for Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on a Joint Transit Procedure and NCTS (23-25 November 2021) is being completed.

The mission includes representatives of the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission (DG TAXUD) and of three countries’ participants of the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure (Croatia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom). This is a preparatory stage for the main, assessment mission, which will assess Ukraine’s readiness to accede to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure in 2022.

Representatives of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, and the Reform Support Office under the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine with the support by the EU funded Program “EU Public Finance Management Support Program for Ukraine” (EU4PFM) are participating in the mission.

After Ukraine accedes to the Convention, Ukrainian businesses will be able to enjoy the benefits and simplifications of the common transit, which business has already in 35 countries of the Convention. Moreover, when moving goods in joint transit 35+, the work is based on the principle “one vehicle – one declaration – one financial guarantee “.

“We appeal to Ukrainian business to be more actively involved in the process because a positive assessment of Ukraine by international partners is possible only with the support and active participation of Ukrainian participants in international trade in testing NCTS now”, said Yuriy Draganchuk, Deputy Minister of Finance for European Integration.

“We hope that as an outcome of the joint work, Ukraine will accede to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure in 2022, and Ukrainian business will receive a “customs visa-free”, – said Vladislav Suvorov, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine.

DG TAXUD experts assessed the legislative and organizational support of a Common Transit in Ukraine, the application of NCTS by customs of departure (on the border) and customs of destination, held meetings with the national implementation team of the project on Ukraine’s accession to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure, including NCTS support service, business, and financial institutions.

“Ukraine is already implementing a New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) at the national level. There is significant progress reached in its preparation and Ukraine is likely to accede to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure and thus begin international NCTS operations in 2022. This will have a very positive impact on trade and the movement of goods for Ukraine, the EU, and other countries party to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure. Traders should already join NCTS and get used to its functions, as this will make their lives easier when the system is used for international trade,” said Michael Rathje, Director of Transit, DG TAXUD.