Representatives of the Serbian Customs Administration recently took part in study visits to Croatia and Italy, where they exchanged experiences with their counterparts on contemporary European practices in applying EU tariff systems, automating customs procedures, and ensuring their interoperability.
The visits took place in February in Umag and in April in Rome. During the multi-day meetings, Customs Administration experts reviewed specific solutions used across the European Union and discussed the challenges Croatia and Italy faced while establishing their new systems.
In Croatia, the delegation was briefed on technical topics such as the functions of the TARIC system (common EU customs tariff), tariff-quota management, and mathematical models for calculating duties. In Italy, the focus was on the role of the tariff system in the practical implementation of customs procedures, as well as its integration with Single Window - CERTEX, which enables the electronic exchange of customs and non-customs documents between EU institutions, and with the management of national tariff and non-tariff measures.
Representatives of the Customs Administration said the visits provided practical insight into how EU electronic customs systems operate. They added that the exchange of experience was particularly valuable because Croatia and Italy have already gone through modernization processes similar to those now awaiting Serbia.
“The knowledge and experience gained during these visits provide useful guidance for the introduction of a new, modern Integrated Tariff Management System (ITMS), which will replace the current system and align it as closely as possible with the European model,” the participants said.
The visits were organized as part of activities aimed at implementation a modern integrated tariff system within the Customs Administration. This effort is supported by the project EU PFM Facility, funded by the European Union under IPA 2021, and implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) and the Ministry of Finance of the Slovakia.
What Is ITMS?
ITMS (Integrated Tariff Management System) is a digital platform that contains all data used to define goods involved in international movement, as well as the regulations that apply to them. Its main purpose is to ensure the consistent, electronic, and legally compliant application of customs rules. Through ITMS, customs officers and the business community can easily access the Customs Tariff, tariff and non-tariff measures, quotas, prohibitions, restrictions, and other rules governing the international movement of goods. In this way, the system supports the Customs Administration, as the end user, in further modernization and automation, while also supporting Serbia in meeting the requirements for EU accession under Chapter 29 – Customs Union.