Ukraine is heading towards customs visa-free – the EU-CTC Working Group on Common Transit and the Simplifications of Formalities in Trade in Goods recommends to the join Committees to invite Ukraine to the Convention on the common transit procedure and the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods.

Ukraine is invited to the Convention on the common transit procedure and the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods. This is the result of consideration of the conclusions of the final monitoring mission of the EU, which took place on June 23-24, 2022.

In today’s official decision, the working group proposes: to invite Ukraine to the Convention on the common transit procedure; supplement this Convention with the 36th country – Ukraine and invite Ukraine to join also the Convention on the Simplification of Trade Formalities.

“Despite the state of war, the Ministry of Finance continues to implement the customs reform. We aim to turn Ukrainian customs into the most convenient service for our business. And NSTS will allow to do this by speeding up the flow of goods across the border. Customs visa-free is an opportunity to quickly move goods between 36 countries of the European region. At the same time, joining the Convention on the common transit procedure and NCTS is an important step for Ukraine’s future membership in the EU,” stressed Serhiy Marchenko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine.

According to Vladyslav Suvorov, SCS Deputy Head, the next formal steps should be: the decision of the joint committees of the countries participating in the conventions, the sending of official invitations to Ukraine, the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of laws on joining the conventions. After that, Ukraine must submit official translations of the conventions to the European repository and will be able to start the international application of the NCTS.

“We expect that, according to an optimistic forecast, the international application of the system of joint transit through Ukraine can begin as early as October 1, 2022, and at the latest – from February 1, 2023,” – said Vytenis Alishauskas, EU4PFM Key International Expert on customs.

“Since there is not much time left before the international application of NCTS by Ukraine, we urge businesses to intensify the study of new opportunities provided by joint transit, as well as to submit applications for obtaining transit simplifications. More detailed information can be obtained on the website of the State Customs Service in the Common Transit Mode (NCTS) section,” said Alina Brendak, national coordinator for joint transit, deputy director of the department – head of the International Transit System Development Department of the Department of Implementation of the International Transit System of the State Customs Service.

As you know, after Ukraine joins the Convention, Ukrainian businesses will be able to use the advantages and simplifications of common transit that businesses in the 35 countries of the Convention have, as well as when moving goods in the common transit mode, work according to the principle of “one vehicle – one declaration – one financial guarantee”.

The Convention, after Ukraine joins it, will become part of the legislation of Ukraine. Therefore, the provisions of the Convention will have priority over the national legislation of Ukraine.