European Union will support the development of the implementing regulations for the new Customs Code

Management of the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Service, and representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, as well as the EU High Level Adviser on Customs & Tax Policy held a working meeting to mark the launching of the large-scale exercise on developing the implementing regulations for the recently adopted Customs Code.

The new Customs Code, approximated with that of the EU, was adopted by Parliament in its final reading in August 2021. According to its provisions, it shall enter into force on 1 January 2023, and its implementing regulations, as well as draft laws for its alignment with EU customs regulations, have to be developed and adopted by then. Following the Ministry of Finance request, the European Union, via its ‘EU High Level Advises’ Mission’, has agreed to support the development of implementing regulations, as well as the relevant draft laws.

A total of nine EU experts will be working, during the next six months, together with the representatives of the Customs Service and Ministry of Finance to assess the provisions of the current Moldovan customs legislation to be applied in the context of the new Customs Code, as regards their compatibility with the EU customs legislation.

The experts will also produce a plan of related measures necessary to prepare for the practical implementation of the new Customs Code from the date of its entry into force. The conclusions, results achieved and recommendations for further actions will be summarised in a final report that will be shared with the beneficiaries. The launch of this mission is part of a larger EU programme in support to the Moldovan Customs service including the AEO Mutual Recognition Programme and the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) implementation, among other EU-funded projects.

The developed regulations will mark one more step towards approximation with the EU acquis and will pave the way for full-fledged implementation of the new Customs Code.