European Commission to ease Customs formalities for sea freight

The EC set out plans to reduce red tape for intra-EU ocean shipments earlier this week. The aim of the initiaive is to reduce delays in ports, to make short sea shipping more competitive and ultimately to reduce road congestion. Currently, the maritime sector within the EU currently carries a significiant  admnistrative burden, entailing delays at ports which make the sector less attractive compared to other forms of transport.

New measures include a reduction of the consultation period for member states from 45 to 15 days and shorter, more flexible customs procedures. The Commission is also proposing to implement a system which can distinguish between the EU and non-EU bound goods aboard vessels, so that the latter may be more swiftly dispatched.

Vice-President Siim Kallas, commented, "Europe is faced with major challenges in terms of rising congestion and pollution. We need short sea shipping to fulfil its potential and provide a low cost, environmentally-friendly transport solution, taking more goods off lorries and off our congested roads. We are proposing innovative tools to cut red tape and help make the shipping sector a more attractive alternative for customers looking to move goods around the EU".

Commissioner Algirdas Semeta said, that the new initiaitve, labelled " Blue Belt",  "will bring the single market to the seas," adding, "the proposed measures will greatly benefit shipping as they will reduce costs, simplify administration, faciliitate trade and create a level playing field between all types of transport."