(AGENPARL) – ven 28 aprile 2023 Media advisory
Upcoming audit report on “Trusted Traders” (EU customs) – publication: 5 May 2023
On Friday 5 May 2023, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) – the EU’s budget watchdog – will publish a special report on whether the EU’s programme to simplify customs procedures for reliable traders (authorised economic operators) facilitates legitimate trade and supply chain security.
ABOUT THE TOPIC
To simplify customs procedures for reliable traders, the EU has a programme in place, the authorised economic operators (AEO) programme, to facilitate legitimate trade between the EU and its global partners and to ensure international supply chain security. In exchange for demonstrating that they consistently follow customs and tax rules, authorised economic operators receive preferential treatment in the customs process. This programme involves a significant part of the EU’s external trade.
ABOUT THE AUDIT
The auditors reviewed the Commission’s role in designing the AEO programme’s regulatory framework and monitoring its implementation. They visited five Member States (Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain) to assess the programme’s implementation. The ECA’s previous audits of EU customs import procedures and E- commerce highlighted areas of risk related to the AEO concept.
FOR PRESS
– The report and press release will be published on the ECA website [eca.europa.eu](https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/Pages/ecadefault.aspx) at 7.00 a.m. CEST on Friday 5 May 2023.
– The ECA member responsible for this report is Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz.
The ECA’s special reports set out the results of its audits of EU policies and programmes or management topics related to specific budgetary areas. The ECA selects and designs these audit tasks to be of maximum impact by considering the risks to performance or compliance, the level of income or spending involved, forthcoming developments and political and public interest.
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ECA Press
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