In order to differentiate the application of forms of customs control, the customs authorities apply a subject-oriented approach, namely, the participants in foreign economic activity are categorized into low, medium and high risk categories.

On 7 December, the European Commission welcomed the adoption of important new measures which will enable Member States to relieve EU hospitals, medical practitioners and individuals of Value-Added Tax (VAT) when acquiring coronavirus vaccines and testing kits.

On November 26, a ceremony was held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Academy of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Spain's Institute for Fiscal Studies (IEF).

Nearly 25,000 units, in the form of pills, tablets, ampoules and the like, were seized by the Customs during this year's international action against illegal medical devices and counterfeit drugs, Operation Pangea XIII. The Norwegian Medicines Agency's analyzes confirm that consumers are being deceived. (Illustration photo: Hampus Lundgren)

In close cooperation with the WCO Secretariat, ROCB Europe coordinated a National Webinar Program for Moldova Customs on Authorized Economic Operator’s (AEO) Mutual Recognition, which was held virtually from 2 to 4 December 2020.The Webinar was delivered by the WCO Secretariat and accredited experts while it was technically and financially supported and arranged by the ROCB Europe.

On November 18, 2020, the Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI) and the Director General of Tracfin (Intelligence Processing and Action Against Illegal Financial Circuits) co-signed the guidelines relating to the implementation, by operators of voluntary sales of furniture at public auctions, of their obligations. in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terroris

In the period from 24 to 26 November 2020 the WCO Regional Training Centre in Nur-Sultan city of the Training Methodical Centre of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RTC WCO in Nur-Sultan city) with the support of the international organization USAID held an international webinar on «National transit coordinator» with the participation of regional

Promoting the work on customs capacity building and WCO instruments is one of the strategic goals of the ROCB Europe in the region. In that regard, the ROCB Europe, in close cooperation with the WCO Secretariat, coordinated Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) National Workshop for Uzbekistan which was held on 25-26 November 2020.

On 20 November 2020, a virtual conference of the World Customs Organization Europe Region Heads of Customs Administration was held.WCO Europe Region Member Administrations and EU, WCO Secretariat, the Vice-Chair of the WCO Europe Region as well as the ROCB Europe and RILOs in the region were represented in the virtual conference.

In the period from 19 to 22 October 2020, the State Revenue Committee of Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the WCO held an international webinar on «Time release study» with the participation of representatives of OSCE, GIZ, regional representatives of bodies of state revenues of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Printed version of the ROCB Europe Annual Progress Report is now available online.

Virtual (10th) Meeting of the Regional Structures of the World Customs Organization Europe Region under the theme of “Annual Progress and Vision for 2021” will be held on 2 December 2020.