Regional Office for Capacity Building for the World Customs Organization Europe Region

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Who We Are?

At the Conference of Heads of Customs Services of the European Region, held in Bergen (Norway), in May 2009, the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan proposed the creation of the European Regional Office for Capacity Building, based in Baku. The meeting supported the initiative. 

In June 2009, above decision was endorsed by the Council of the World Customs Organization (WCO). 

In pursuance of this decision on 11 November 2009 the World Customs Organization and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which became the legal basis for placement of the Regional Office for Capacity Building for Europe Region in Baku. 

To prepare basic documents defining the organizational structure and activities of the Regional Office, at the initiative of Europe’s Vice-Chair (CA of Luxembourg) a Think-Tank group was formed of delegates of the European Customs Services, represented in the WCO governing bodies. During the meeting in Moscow in January 2011, the Think-Tank Group drafted a Concept of the Regional Office and a Capacity Building Strategy of the European Region. 

Both of these documents were adopted by the Conference of Heads of Customs Services of the European region, held in April 2011 in Baku. 

The Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) for the World Customs Organization (WCO) Europe Region was officially opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 17, 2011 with a ceremony attended by the WCO Secretary General Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Chair of the WCO Council Mrs. Josephine Feehily, senior officials of the Government and the Customs Administration of Republic of Azerbaijan. 

ROCB Europe is the 6th and final ROCB that also comprises WCO’s largest region with its 52 member states and the European Union.  

The regional capacity building aims at modernizing Customs Services by taking into consideration global directions, standards, Customs in the 21st century policy document by the WCO, WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE), Revised Kyoto Convention, WCO Capacity Building Compendium and such. 

Regional capacity building provides the fact that the regional needs are taken into account and that it is aimed at supporting Member states to better fulfill their core functions as Customs administrations. 
 

Other ROCBs Worldwide: