Odesa, 22 May 2015 – Moldova moved decisively yesterday to facilitate trade and drive forward EU alignment as its Customs Service announced a radical reduction in the number of documents required for customs clearance procedures. The new scheme will see the number of documents needed for customs declarations cut to just three.
Rosemary Thomas, spokesperson for EUBAM said: “This is Moldova delivering on its promises to bring its customs control procedures into line with international standards. It also fulfils one of Moldova’s obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU. What’s particularly impressive is the level of ambition the Customs Service has shown in delivering this scale of reduction. In the current difficult economic environment in Europe, it’s more important than ever to facilitate trade.”
The move followed advice and assistance from EUBAM which is working with Moldovan Customs as it continues to modernise both its organisational and legislative framework to facilitate trade and bring Moldova’s customs control procedures into line with EU and international standards. The reduction in the number of documents required for customs clearance will fulfil one of Moldova’s trade facilitation obligations under the Association Agreement and related Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area it signed with the EU in 2014.
The new procedures will drive down the costs for business and boost trade. It will also help to bump up Moldova’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report. This year’s report saw Moldova at 152 (out of 189 countries ranked) in the “trading across borders” category.
Background
According to new provisions approved by the Moldovan Government, the customs declaration filed with the Customs Service will have to be accompanied only by three mandatory documents, namely: 1) the invoice, 2) transport documentation and 3) permissive act, where the legislation provides for the presentation of licenses or authorizations.
EUBAM has been working with the border and customs services of Moldova and Ukraine since 2005 to assist the two states to bring their control procedures into line with EU and international standards.
