Customs Programme (CUST)

The Customs Programme supports the essential cooperation between customs authorities across the EU and protects the financial and economic interests of the EU and its Member States. It has helped to build a modern and innovative Customs Union that ensures the safety and security of all EU citizens, while at the same time facilitating growing global trade.

The Customs Programme has a budget of €950 million for the period 2021-2027, an increase from €523 million in the period 2014-2020. It allows the joint development and operation of major, pan-European IT systems and establishes networks, bringing together national officials from across Europe.

The programme focuses on three main objectives:

1. a modern and innovative Customs Union facilitating trade;
    
2. protecting the EU and its citizens;
    
3. improving cooperation on the ground;

The new Customs Programme will help put in place a modern Customs Union which puts the interests of EU business and citizens at its heart, by:

• increasing information and data exchange between national customs administrations to better detect the flow of dangerous and counterfeit goods;
   
• supporting customs authorities in protecting the financial and economic interests of the Union, as well as in the correct collection of customs duties, import VAT and excise duties;
   
• devising better risk management strategies to protect the EU's financial interests; and help the EU better respond to security threats and transnational crime;
   
• continuing to facilitate growing levels of trade.

The new programme will aim to help customs administrations to deal with increasing trade flows and emerging trends and technologies, such as e-commerce and blockchain. It will also support customs authorities through enhanced cooperation on the ground and more training. The programme will help to provide better risk management to protect the EU's financial interests and to respond to security threats and cross-border crime.