Scientific Journal – 2013 Number 4
Customs Scientific Journal of the WCO European Region: “Customs”
We are pleased to present to you the third issue of our Scientific Journal “Customs”, which was released just before the Annual Conference of the Heads of Customs Services of the European Region in Oslo (Norway).
This magazine is intended as a publication designed for a wide range of readers, professionally dealing with the theory and practice of customs. Initiative of its foundation belongs to the group of enthusiasts from the Ukrainian Customs Academy/ WCO Regional Training Centre of Ukraine.
Many of these customs are quite different from each other in the degree of development, the nature of the procedures, the level of technology used and the relationship with the business. However, they are united by a common desire to reform their activities based on best international standards, the introduction of new customs technologies contributing to the simplification of customs procedures and reducing the time required for the release of goods. Much remains to be done to build international customs relations in the region, deepening cooperation with other supervisory authorities, to build partnerships with the business customs. All these issues need to be addressed with the tools developed by the WCO, regional features and best practices.
In order to coordinate the work on the reform and modernization of customs services of the European region in late 2011 the WCO Regional Office for Сapacity Building (ROСB), started operating in Baku (Azerbaijan). One of its tasks is to study the problems that hinder the development of customs services, to arrange the collection of best practices to address them, and spread in the region the WCO instruments.
The journal “Customs” is one of the platforms, capable of learning and disseminating modern customs techniques and standards for further use in the region. It can publish material produced by acting customs officers in the region, higher education and research institutions of various countries, international organizations and businesses related to customs, etc. The journal has columns for material on the customs partnership with business, human resource development, implementation of WCO CB standards, achievements and best practices.
The first two issues of the Journal have been published in English, and received positive feedback. To reach a wider audience of authors and readers, starting with the third number, the journal will be available in two regional languages – English and Russian.
I encourage all professionals to send their works to the editorial board of the journal “Customs” at: info@rocb-europe.org or ird.amsu@gmail.com.
The Journal is available at the ROCB website: www.rocb-europe.org.