EU Trade Facilitation Policy
The shipping industry transports 90% of the EU’s external trade, playing a critical role for the EU’s economy, efficiently connecting manufacturers, retailers and consumers to global markets and suppliers. WSC seeks enhanced trade facilitation measures, leveraging our collective expertise to ensure Europe remains a competitive force in the global economy, supported by efficient and streamlined transport and trade practices.
Pending implementation of EU Maritime Single Window Environment (EMSWe).
WSC calls for the full implementation of EMSWe, streamlining data requirements to eliminate inefficiencies and facilitate a more straightforward reporting process. Further efforts should focus on reducing data redundancies and ensuring compatibility across EU ports to enhance operational efficiency and reduce administrative burdens on carriers.
Continued efforts and effective implementation in 2025 are required to deliver the benefits and trade simplifications promised by this key reform. Successful implementation should eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens and prevent carriers having to tailor every data submission and IT connection to a mosaic of individual national and port level requirements. Considerable efforts by the European Commission, Member States and EMSA - together with industry – are needed both before and after implementation, to make sure the EMSWe delivers its full potential to boost the competitiveness of the EU’s maritime trade.
Modernising the Union Customs Code (UCC) while maintaining trade continuity.
WSC calls for a close engagement with maritime trade stakeholders during the Customs Code reform to ensure the new regulations are practical, reflecting the unique needs of maritime commerce and real-world logistics operations. This collaboration will help tailor reforms to support an efficient, modern and competitive EU maritime sector at the service of European businesses and consumers.
Aimed at aligning customs operations with the needs of contemporary trade, the proposed reform of the Union Customs Code seeks to establish a more unified Customs Union. WSC supports the direction of this major reform, not least the proposed establishment of an EU Customs Data Hub with a single trade interface.
However, as the Commission and Member States amend and adopt the new UCC, key legal provisions must be made more compatible with the characteristics of the shipping sector and businesses provided with a stable and legally certain transition to the proposed new customs environment.
Read all our recommendations for EU Policy Priorities 2024-2029