SEMINAR FOR EU ACCESSION CHALLENGES, EXCISE ADMINISTRATION AND COMBATING CORRUPTION

Bulgarian Customs Agency’s (BCA) senior management, including the directors of the regional customs directorates, participated in a two-day seminar organised by Crown Agents under the Bulgarian Customs Modernisation Programme.

The challenges of the upcoming EU accession, excise administration and measures for combating corruption were the main themes discussed.

BCA experts presented analyses of the state of preparedness of Bulgarian Customs for EU accession and the next steps in this direction, including the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS), the development of simplified customs procedures and the “single window” service. Among the topics discussed in relation to excise administration were duty-free shop legislation, IT issues and staffing. Crime and corruption, as factors which could hinder progress, were also analysed and counter-measures discussed.

The Director General of the BCA, Mr. Asen Asenov, identified the longer term changes that will have a significant impact on the activities of the Customs at central and regional level. Some of the major challenges which he noted were introducing a range of new business processes and systems, human resources and training.

CROWN AGENTS