Cooperation with EU
The Lithuanian Customs officials participate in the meetings organized on different Customs matters by the Council of the European Union, European Commission and Europol, prepare and present Lithuania’s positions on the draft EU legal acts within the Customs competence, which are discussed at the meetings of the EU Council's and the European Commission’s Committees and Expert Groups.
The main Directorates of the European Commission, where the EU Customs activity related policies are formed, are Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), Home Affairs (DG HOME) and European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF).
The representatives of the Lithuanian Customs participate in the activities of the EU Council‘s working groups: a high level subgroup of Directors General of Customs within the Customs Union Working Party, this group is entrusted with the strategic and horizontal coordination of Customs issues in the EU Council, and expert working groups on Customs Union and Law Enforcement (Customs). Questions related to Customs matters are also discussed in the EU Council's Internal Security Committee (COSI).
The experts of the Lithuanian Customs participate in the activities of 21 European Commission’s Committees (comitology) and 12 European Commission's Expert Groups.
The Customs authorities of the Republic of Lithuania cooperate with the Customs administrations of the EU Member States and third countries (this is called mutual administrative assistance in the field of Customs) in order to ensure proper compliance with Customs legislation and the prevention of the violations of the legislation, to investigate such violations, to ensure the fair imposition of Customs duties and other taxes, administered by Customs, and their recovery as well as the proper application of prohibitions, restrictions and provisions on control.
The cooperation with the Customs administrations of the European Union Member States and of third countries in the field of mutual assistance in Customs matters is carried out in accordance with the following legislation:
1. European Union Regulations and other legislation governing mutual assistance in Customs matters (Council Regulation (EC) No. 515/97, Convention drawn up on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on mutual assistance and cooperation between customs administrations, etc.);
2. bilateral and multilateral agreements between the European Union and third countries (OLAF);
3. bilateral and multilateral agreements between the Republic of Lithuania and third countries, if the European Union has not concluded agreements with these third countries and if this does not contradict the legislation of the European Union;
4. bilateral and multilateral agreements between the Republic of Lithuania and the European Union Member States;
5. multilateral agreements (conventions) of international organizations to which the Republic of Lithuania is a contracting party.
While co-operating with the European Union’s Customs administrations and the European Commission in the field of mutual assistance in customs matters, EU regulations establishing the mutual assistance in customs matters, international conventions to which the Republic of Lithuania is a contracting party, and legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania are followed.
According to Council Regulation (EC) No 515/97, competent authorities exchange by means of AFIS (Anti-Fraud Information System) personal data contained in ECS (Export Control System) and NCTS (New Computerized Transit Information System) with a view to identifying fraud cases. In order to inform of the use of personal data, we are providing a Privacy Statement for Import, Export, Transit Directory. More information on the use and protection of the personal data is available on the OLAF website.
New Initiatives – EU Customs Reform
On 17 May 2023, the Commission put forward proposals for the comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Union: EU Customs Reform (europa.eu)
Reform goals:
- To significantly simplify customs formalities for businesses and customs authorities thereby reducing compliance costs for EU businesses by around €2.7 billion a year.
- To ensure integrated supply chain supersivion through the new EU risk management framework.
- To establish the EU Customs Authority.
- To review and simplify the rules on the taxation of goods sold in e-commerce.
More information on EU Customs Reform is available on the European Commission‘s website.
Last updated: 15-07-2024