CLECAT JOINS DIALOGUE ON RULES OF ORIGIN WITH COMMISSIONER ŠEFČOVIČ
On 11 July, CLECAT participated in the Implementation Dialogue on the Rules of Origin with Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. The meeting brought together stakeholders to provide input from their sectoral perspectives and advise the Commission on possible solutions to the issues identified.
As set out in the Commissioners’ mission letters, each Member of the College organises Implementation Dialogues with stakeholders to align implementation efforts with the realities on the ground. These dialogues aim to take stock of progress towards policy objectives and identify practical barriers to implementation, based on concrete stakeholder feedback.
The focus of the 11th July session was on the Rules of Origin and the practical challenges encountered by EU industry. The Commission also sought to identify potential opportunities to adapt the current rules, with particular attention to making better use of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention and supporting sustainable economic development in the region.
Participants were invited to reflect on key challenges, including the complexity of the rules, compliance costs, traceability of production steps, information exchange, and the effectiveness of the current rules in supporting broader policy objectives, such as trade defence or CBAM. The potential for standardisation and digitalisation of supporting documents was also discussed.
Trade representatives broadly agreed that complexity and a general lack of awareness, particularly among SMEs, remain major obstacles. Fragmented implementation and limited digitalisation were also highlighted as areas in need of improvement.
CLECAT, representing logistics industry stakeholders who often deal with the consequences of non-compliant goods arriving at EU borders, supported calls for simplification, digitalisation and harmonisation. CLECAT also stressed the potential of existing and future tools – such as the Digital Product Passport – to help shift more compliance responsibilities upstream, ensuring that only compliant goods reach the EU.