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The European Commission has initiated legal proceedings against six Member States for failing to comply with key obligations under the Union Customs Code (UCC). Letters of formal notice have been sent to Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Austria, Romania and Slovakia for not fully deploying the electronic systems for Temporary Storage and the National Import System required for air transport.

Under the Union Customs Code (UCC) and the related UCC Work Programme, Member States were required to ensure these systems were operational by 31 December 2023. The systems are critical for enabling electronic lodgement of customs declarations and for managing import formalities. In particular, the Temporary Storage system supports the supervision of goods upon entry into the EU, while the National Import System ensures both fiscal and non-fiscal controls are applied correctly, including prohibitions and restrictions on certain goods.

The Commission notes that failure to implement these systems undermines the effective functioning of the EU’s customs framework, including revenue collection and the protection of the EU’s financial interests. Interoperability with national applications is also compromised, weakening the enforcement of EU and national regulations.

The six Member States have two months to respond to the Commission’s concerns. If their replies are not satisfactory, the Commission may proceed with reasoned opinions as the next step in the infringement procedure. For more details, the infringement register and enforcement tracking tools are available via the Commission's website.

Source: European Commission