Research directions
Research Center for Customs Policy and Customs Affairs
Development
of Customs Policy and Customs Affairs in Ukraine in the Context of
EU Integration
Harmonization of the norms and standards of Ukraine's customs policy with European rules is an important task aimed at ensuring the process of Ukraine's rapid and unimpeded accession to the European Community.
In the domestic customs space, new global standards of customs authorities' activities are effectively functioning and being implemented, aimed at synchronizing the work of the Ukrainian customs with customs administrations of EU countries, which will accelerate the passage of goods across borders and greatly facilitate international trade.
This direction explores the following strategic plans for the development of customs affairs in Ukraine:
- Functioning of a comprehensive and stable system of customs legislation;
- Digital transformation as a process of innovative improvement of customs control and customs clearance procedures;
- Improvement of the mechanism for identifying customs risks;
- Increasing the effectiveness of customs audit and post-audit as forms of customs control;
- Improvement of "customs-business" cooperation;
- Implementation of a new personnel policy.
The research involves analysing factors that could catalyze the aforementioned trends in customs policy development or, conversely, act as inhibiting factors.
Development
of Ukraine's foreign trade in wartime and post-war
periods
Since 2014, the Ukrainian economy has been in a crisis exacerbated by the full-scale invasion by Russia on 24/02/2022. Production of key goods, including those forming the basis of Ukraine's export potential, has decreased or been suspended in some regions.
Blocked ports and destroyed transport-logistic infrastructure have led to a decline in foreign trade volumes. Demographic crisis and relocation of production abroad threaten the formation of a basis for post-war economic development. Therefore, key research directions include finding new innovative business models to enhance the resilience of Ukrainian exporters and increase Ukraine's foreign trade volumes.
Implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator Program in Ukraine
The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) has become a flagship program of partnership between customs and business for WTO members, as it allows customs, on the principles of partnership, to share its security responsibilities with the private sector, providing a range of customs simplifications and benefits as incentives.
The main focus will be on the following research areas:
- Analysis of global experience in implementing the AEO program and providing special simplifications in international trade;
- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) with the EU as a basis for AEO implementation in Ukraine;
- Status and prospects of AEO program implementation in Ukraine;
- Popularization of the AEO program among Ukrainian enterprises involved in the international trade chain.
- Benefits of AEO authorization for Ukrainian businesses;
- Types of AEO authorization: simplifications and benefits during customs control and goods clearance;
- Preparing enterprises to obtain AEO authorization: analyzing problematic issues and developing ways to address them.
- Authorization for specific simplifications: procedures for obtaining and benefits for enterprises.
- Analysis of experience in obtaining AEO by enterprises in EU countries and the world;
- Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) between countries worldwide for AEO. Prospects for Ukraine.
Streamlining
customs procedures and developing "Customs-Business
partnership"
This direction defines strategic goals for conducting scientific research and developing recommendations on simplifying customs procedures and developing the "customs-business" partnership in Ukraine.
Key research involves studying global experience and developing recommendations for optimizing customs procedures aimed at implementing the latest global trends and advanced technologies to facilitate and accelerate customs clearance in the modern external economic environment. The second focus is on developing the "customs-business" partnership, including analyzing cooperation mechanisms and creating a favorable environment for interaction. Additionally, the center actively adapts international experience to enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of the Ukrainian customs system.
The relevance of research in these directions is confirmed by ongoing transformations in the global economy and the need to adapt customs policy to new conditions. The research center initiates academic discussions and scientific research to formulate recommendations that will further develop Ukraine's customs system in the context of global economic challenges.
Application
of the New Computerised Transit System
(NCTS)
The New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) is a system based on the Convention on Common Transit Procedure, after the accession to which Ukraine has established unified rules for regulating transit operations jointly with the EU. NCTS significantly simplifies the transit movement of goods, allowing the exchange of customs data for monitoring transit movements. Common transit is one of the key issues of economic integration between Ukraine and the EU.
The main focus will be on the following research directions:
- Analysis of global experience in the implementation and application of the common transit system.
- Wide application of the NCTS system for transporting goods under customs control.
- Application of unified rules for regulating transit operations in Ukraine and the EU.
- Application of transit simplifications provided by NCTS in Ukraine (general guarantee; obtaining the status of an authorized consignor; use of special type seals).
- Declaration of goods under the common transit procedure, taking into account the peculiarities of NCTS.
- Use of individual and general financial guarantees for transit declaration.
- Popularization of the advantages of using NCTS and new opportunities for Ukrainian enterprises.
