Launch of the EU Twinning Light Project „Support to the Revenue and Customs Administration for ensuring efficient and effective customs controls at borders”

On 30.11.2022 the Kick-off meeting of the EU-funded Twinning Light Project “Support to the Revenue and Customs Administration for ensuring efficient and effective customs controls at borders" was held at the Montenegrin Revenue and Customs Administration HQ in Podgorica. This EU funded project is implemented by the German Customs Authority together with the Revenue and Customs Administration of Montenegro, the beneficiary country. The project is scheduled for six months and has a budget of EUR 100,000.

The goals of the twinning project are, in particular, the promotion and enhancement of the government's actions to secure Montenegro's external borders as well as the support of important measures to facilitate the cross-border trade.

The strengthening of the capacities of the Revenue and Customs Administration of Montenegro extends particularly to the fight against smuggling in goods and passenger traffic with a focus on protecting the financial and security interests of Montenegro and its citizens, as well as the interests of the EU in the future.

The Twinning project supports Montenegro's accession efforts to the EU by strengthening customs enforcement and strengthening the Revenue and Customs Administration’s capacity to prevent illegal trade. An effective customs administration contributes, among other criteria, to facilitating legitimate trade, avoiding distortions of competition, minimizing risks in the supply chain and addresses potential investors.

Mr. Vladimir Bulajić, Director of the Revenue and Customs Administration of Montenegro (RCA) „I would like to take this opportunity to thank the European Commission for its support, which I believe we will have in the future as we work to establish a modern and efficient customs service. At the same time, I would like to thank our partner, the Customs Service of the Federal Republic of Germany, for their support, with whom we will achieve significant cooperation during the project and acquire the skills and knowledge of their experts. Respecting the guidelines of the World Customs Organization, the legal acquits of the European Union and the best European practice, the Revenue and Customs Administration continuously implements activities to strengthen the security and protection of the customs area, suppress cross-border smuggling of narcotics and weapons, control transit, exports, dual-use products, as well as imports dangerous products, infringement of intellectual property rights etc. “

His Excellency Ambassador Felten said that this is a good and important day for German-Montenegrin cooperation. „I am glad to be here with you. It is a good day because very concrete things are about to happen in our cooperation. It is about enabling mutually beneficial cross-border exchange, in particular of goods, drawing on the comparative advantages of third countries, for the benefit of the own population. And, at the same time, it is about protecting the own citizens from fake, often dangerous, products, from drugs, from organized crime, it is about protecting the own workforce from irregular work migration, it is about protecting the own industry from illicit competition through fake product and fake brand copies, it is about protecting the environment, the biodiversity and protected animals and plants.“

The Representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, in person Nina Markovic, is convinced that such Hands-on support of colleagues of the German Central Customs Authority will be instrumental in transferring the latest know-how in securing both the green and the blue border. As from the day of the accession, the Montenegrin Revenue and Customs Administration will have to manage and control Montenegro's borders in the interest of the European Union citizens and trade operators, which will then, to a great extent, be the external borders of the Union.

According to Martin Reuter, Head of the International Section of the German Central Customs Authority and the German Project leader, Dr. Ulrike Berg-Haas: „Customs is often the first and last authority before goods enter the domestic market and customs controls must always adapt to new circumstances and new risks. In times of global trade, it is a challenge for all customs administrations to find the balance between possible facilitation for a fast cross-border movement of goods and the consideration of and compliance with prohibitions and restrictions.”

All statements were strongly supported by the leader of the project in Montenegro, Marija Antelj. “It is really our pleasure to work with one of the best Europeans and even world customs services. We are sure that we will receive an excellent professional expertise from German customs officers and we hope that we will continue our future cooperation in some other, preferably, peer to peer projects and that our colleagues will upgrade their knowledge in different areas covered by this Project.”

All participants of the event in common underlined the importance of the project and are convinced of a positive output for all sides.