TRADITIONAL OWN RESOURCES — FRAUD
(20099)
7733/99
COM(99) 160
| Commission Report on the recovery of Traditional Own Resources
in cases of fraud and irregularities.
|
| Legal base:
| — |
| |
| Department: |
HM Customs and Excise |
| Basis of consideration:
| Letter of 28 February 2000
|
| Previous Committee Report:
| HC 34-xxii (1998-99), paragraph 10 (16 June 1999)
|
| Committee's assessment:
| Politically important |
| Committee's decision:
| Cleared (decision reported on 16 June 1999)
|
Background
10.1 On 16 June 1999, we reported on a Commission
report on the recovery of Traditional Own Resources in cases of
fraud and irregularities. In our conclusion, we noted that amendments
to the Customs Code should provide better protection for the Community's
financial interests. However, we drew attention to the Commission's
1997 Action Plan for transit in Europe which envisaged action
more generally to simplify and modernise the transit system (for
collecting customs on third country goods moving into and through
the Community). We cleared the document but asked the Minister
to tell us what progress is being made on the transit Action Plan.
The Minister's letter
10.2 With her letter of 28 February 2000,
the Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo) provides us with a report
on this matter. This records progress in respect of:
- legislative changes to the Customs Code and its
implementing provisions (together with the Convention on a Common
Transit Procedure and the Convention on the Simplification of
Formalities in Trade in Goods which cover the EFTA and Visegrad
countries (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic));
- full computerisation of the transit system, known
as the "New Computerised Transit System" (NCTS); and
- a package of operational (non-legislative) measures.
10.3 The Minister says that the legislative
changes will be implemented from November 2000. Computerisation
— which the Commission sees as the main weapon against major
fraud — is proceeding through pilot schemes and other developments.
Within the UK, the Minister specifies a range of operational measures
taken in response to the Action Plan.
Conclusion
10.4 We are grateful for this report,
though it has taken a very long time to provide. It gives useful
supplementary information, and we are glad to note the progress
being made in tackling this major area of fraud in customs dues.
|
