Ministry of Finance hosts expert meeting with regions on draft law for authorized economic operators

On March 10, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and public from various regions of Ukraine attended an expert meeting in the format of a video conference. The topics of the meeting were the draft law on the implementation of authorized economic operators in Ukraine and the simplification of customs formalities. The draft law had been elaborated by the Ministry of Finance jointly with an expert group.

The meeting was attended by head of the customs policy department of the Ministry of Finance Olexandr Moskalenko, head of the customs control department of the State Fiscal Service Olexiy Vasylenko, deputy head of department of the Employers Federation Igor Muratov, partner of the NGO "Easy Business" Tetyana Palamarchuk and others. Representatives of public authorities and civil organizations, experts and media from Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Poltava, Kharkiv and Chernigiv joined the meeting as well.

In the course of the discussion the representatives of the Ministry of Finance presented the key regulations of the draft Law "On amendments to the Customs Code of Ukraine” (on authorized customs operators and simplification of customs procedures) and answered the questions of all interested participants from the above regions.

“The draft law is aimed to implement authorized economic operators in Ukraine similarly to mechanisms operating in the EU. Granting the status of the authorized economic operator to Ukrainian companies in line with internationally acknowledged criteria should become an effective tool to tackle corruption and administrative pressure on business exerted by customs authorities,” head of the customs policy department of the Ministry of Finance Olexandr Moskalenko said.

Head of the customs control department of the State Fiscal Service Olexiy Vasylenko expressed his support for the draft law and pointed out that its adoption should be the first step to adjust the Ukrainian customs regulations to international standards. “Simpler customs procedures will pose an advantage not only for business, but also for the customs authorities, since they will have more time for the analysis of high-risk consignments,” Olexiy Vasylenko said.

Partner of the NGO “Easy Business” Tetyana Palamarchuk added that “the implementation of authorized economic operators will significantly contribute to the competitiveness of Ukrainian business and strengthen the Ukrainian economy.”