Terms of Reference of the
BSEC Ad Hoc Expert Group on Cooperation in Customs Services
The mission of the Ad-Hoc Expert Group is:
- to promote activities in the BSEC region in the field of customs cooperation taking into account the provisions of the BSEC Charter, the BSEC Economic Agenda for the Future, the Resolutions, Decisions and Recommendations adopted by the BSEC Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the priorities of the Member States and the global challenges;
- to facilitate the establishment of a regional network for customs and enhancing capacity for policy reform among the BSEC Member States;
- to seek ways and means of strengthening international relations capacities of the BSEC Member States, with a view to ensure the proper balance between the needs for trade facilitation on the one hand, and those of safety and security and fight against fraud on the other.
The Ad-Hoc Expert Group on Cooperation in Customs Services is assigned with the task to reach the following targets:
1. To introduce common standards of simplified and efficient customs procedures which facilitate and secure the movement of goods and carriers through borders.
2. To promote the strengthening of cooperation and synchronization of the operations between different services responsible for border crossing control.
3. To identify and propose practical and mutually-agreed upon measures for the implementation of WCO SAFE Framework of Standards.
4. To strengthen customs capacity to combat smuggling and customs fraud.
5. To assist in combating terrorism through respective customs provisions, regulations and best practices.
6. To develop mechanisms enabling the elimination of unregistered trade in the region.
7. To extend the exchange of information between the customs services within the region, as well as with other international bodies, in the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperative instruments and other customs-related agreements.
8. To explore other bilateral and multilateral transit arrangements and to promote them in the BSEC region, where feasible, and insofar that they are compatible with international commitments and national legislation.
9. To elaborate regional cooperation strategy, while taking into account trends of globalization and development of collaboration among countries, governmental and non-governmental institutions.
10. To enhance cooperation with other relevant international organizations and fora.
11. To produce recommendations for specific aspects of cooperation in customs field.
12. To stimulate capacity building activities of the customs administrations of the BSEC Member States, taking into account their specific needs.