Agreement on customs modernisation and the signing of the Vilnius Manifesto

At the Lithuanian Customs Conference held on December 15, the Transport Innovation Association actively engaged in discussions on the future of customs operations and presented concrete proposals aimed at improving the efficiency of customs work.

Proposed measures:

✔️ Establish a clear risk classification system by simplifying the handling of low-risk cases and focusing controls on high-risk cases

✔️ Implement the “single window” principle in customs procedures, enabling one-time submission of documents

✔️ Introduce system changes allowing the storage of company and EORI codes and granting company administrators the right to independently edit company profile data

✔️ Enable the cancellation and amendment of LSD declarations and their automatic linkage to import declarations

During the conference, the Vilnius Manifesto was also signed. The Transport Innovation Association joined the initiative, reaffirming its commitment to contributing to the creation of a modern, efficient, and business-friendly customs system.

The Vilnius Manifesto is an agreement to strive for uniform application of rules, the development of digital customs solutions, and stronger public–private sector cooperation, with the aim of enhancing EU security, market fairness, and competitiveness.

The Manifesto was also signed by representatives of various trade and industry associations, academic and research institutions, and customs authorities: Enrika Naujokė, Lithuanian Customs Practitioners Association; Godfried Smit, European Shippers’ Council; Nicolette van der Jagt, CLECAT – the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services; Massimo de Gregorio, CONFIAD – European Network, the International Federation of Customs Brokers and Customs Representatives; Maite Miret, EurTradeNet – the European Alliance of Customs-Related Service Providers; Katalin Skram and Walter Van der Meiren, European Express Association; Anthony Buckley, Customs Knowledge Institute; Prof. Dr. Hans-Michael Wolffgang, Institute for Customs and International Trade Law, University of Münster; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erika Besusparienė, Vytautas Magnus University; and Šarūnas Avižienis and Mindaugas Krikščionaitis, Lithuanian Customs.