Customs reform – correspondence of reality plans

Conversations about the reset of the DFS of Ukraine and the reform of customs were carried out for a long time. To argue about the need for change is useless, but it is also problematic to hold them. For example, back in late March, the Finance Ministry proposed its scenario of reorganizing the structures. However, as. Head of the Fiscal Service immediately discarded it, complaining about the lack of a legislative base and the real risk of a complete stoppage of the customs system with all the ensuing circumstances.

Fortunately, having received a reasoned refusal, the financiers did not calm down, but began to work out a new concept of reform, or rather, expanded the proposed initially, clarified the subtle points and brought the project in line with real requirements. Let’s see what exactly the Ministry of Finance proposes to do with the DFS and how the Cabinet reacted to it.

The main provisions of the customs reform plan

The plan provides for carrying out activities in 19 directions simultaneously. This is the creation of a legislative base, training of personnel, communication, ethics, personnel management, border control and the country as a whole, supply chain security, customs duties, law enforcement, information and communication technologies, intellectual property rights, customs transit, laboratory, post Control and audit, etc.

The document does not contain a summary description of the actions, but gives an understanding of the process. Customs will move towards centralization of management, but a clear division of functions. Individual units will engage in auditing, ensuring the operation of information systems, interaction with law enforcement agencies, etc. Legislation will be rewritten and brought into line with the European one, in order to facilitate the passage of customs and enhance the transit attractiveness of the country.

The fight against corruption and bureaucracy is also planned. The project developers want to form a clear procedure without dozens of nuances and minimize corruption risks by transferring most of the actions to the electronic plane. The introduction of an IT system will reduce the influence of officials on decision-making, which will automatically favorably influence the speed and quality of services.

Of great interest is the paragraph of the plan entitled “Facilitating business in solving logistics and procedural issues” and “Reducing the expenditure of business on foreign economic activity.” I would like to know more about the concept of implementing the idea, but so far, unfortunately, all this looks like an application for the desire to change something without specificity.