The Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB) Europe recently participated in the 19th Global Meeting of the Regional Entities established by the World Customs Organization (WCO) Members and the Council Vice-Chairs' Offices, held on February 19-20, 2024, at the WCO headquarters in Brussels. The meeting focused on advancing customs education, capacity building, and technological innovation.

Delegates received updates on the latest advancements in the WCO CLiKC! platform and the implementation of the WCO Distance Learning Strategy. The Secretariat highlighted the importance of optimizing the utilization of CLiKC! and encouraged Regional Entities to contribute high-quality materials, enhancing the overall learning experience. 

Updates on the progress of the WCO VR training project were shared, including the deployment of VR kiosks at ROCBs and RTCs worldwide. ROCB Europe expressed appreciation for the implementation of new technological equipment to increase customs officers' capacity. Inspired by this initiative, ROCB Europe announced a new "Training Program on Container Security and Contraband Detection" for the WCO Europe Region, integrating theory, virtual, and practical training segments. 

ROCB Europe highlighted its initiative to designate Regional Training Centers (RTCs) as Excellence Centers in the WCO Europe Region. This project aims to increase RTCs' role in customs capacity building activities and make each RTC a center of excellence for specific topics in customs, enhancing effectiveness and service delivery.

The meeting discussed enhancing comprehension of the WCO Expert Management and Accreditation Policy, introducing the ACE Experts Portal. ROCB Europe commended the WCO's commitment to capacity building and international cooperation, noting that these efforts are crucial for ensuring customs administrations worldwide are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for modern trade environments.

ROCB Europe expressed dedication to supporting the WCO's initiatives and enhancing global customs administration capacities through innovation, partnerships, and customization.