#EUCustomsPlan - The European Commission has adopted a new strategy detailing an action plan to improve customs risk management.

The new strategy launched last week is intended to supervise and identify supply chain risks, and key priorities where action is needed in order to achieve more effective and efficient EU-wide customs risk management.

Each priority in turn is developed in the action plan, in terms of actions to be taken and deliverables to be achieved.

Furthermore, the strategy seeks to ensure that customs is more coherent, efficient and cost effective in a way that reflects today's realities.

The action plan sets out specific measures to achieve this, together with the actors responsible and clear deadlines for doing so.

The main priorities in the strategy and action plan for improving customs risk management are:

Efficient controls and risk-mitigation

Data quality (IT systems for processing entry summary declarations)

Information sharing

Interagency cooperation

Cooperation with traders

Capacity building

International customs cooperation

The Commission, Member States and economic operators will all have an important and clearly defined role to play in ensuring the successful implementation of the new strategy.