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Interconnectivity of Interconnectivity of Information Information

Technology systems.Technology systems.

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Interconnectivity of what and Interconnectivity of what and between whom?between whom?

Interconnectivity of Customs and Taxation IT systems between

European Commission & Candidate Member States.

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Current Commission activities

Recent past:Recent past: finalised in May 2001 finalised in May 2001 the Interconnectivity report which the Interconnectivity report which assesses the situation in the Candidate assesses the situation in the Candidate Countries;Countries;

Ongoing:Ongoing: inform the CC about the inform the CC about the requirements (Systems Documentation) requirements (Systems Documentation) end June;end June;

Near future:Near future: planning of and decision planning of and decision on follow-up and support activities.on follow-up and support activities.

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Which IT systems are included ? CCN/CSI: secured common communication

network and common systems interface. TARIC: Electronic EU Tariff files EBTI: Binding Tariff information TQS: Tariff Quota System Tariff suspensions (no IT interface needed) TCO/TCT: electronic images of customs stamps . ECICS: Inventory of chemical substances IPR: Inward Processing Relief NCTS: Computerised Common Transit system. ORNET: Binding Origin Information SEED: info on traders of excise goods VIES: VAT Information Exchange System

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Which countries are affected?

Bulgaria Czech

Republic Cyprus Estonia Hungary Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

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Some findings oSome findings on the status of Candidate Country IT Programmes : :

Information systems development strategies are defined;

Estimated time needed of 2 to 4 years to develop the complete set of EU compatible IT-systems at a satisfactory level of quality;

Main focus is currently on :

Integrated Customs Information Systems

Management information systems

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Needs Analysis - suggestions : Considerable amount of work still to be Considerable amount of work still to be

done: use of a formal done: use of a formal business change business change management planmanagement plan recommended; recommended;

Full technical Full technical needs analysisneeds analysis recommended, which should takes into recommended, which should takes into consideration the detailed in-country consideration the detailed in-country situation; situation;

Formalised Formalised quality control systemquality control system needed needed in order to guarantee quality results.in order to guarantee quality results.

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Recommended project management techniques:

Increase the IT project management capability (e.g. use trained & experienced IT project managers);

Give special attention to:Project initiation & organisation Estimating & Planning Resource availability and tracking Service management in view of

computerised operationsRisk analysis & management

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Issues considered to be important for successful Systems Development

Draft, discuss and approve comprehensive IT Draft, discuss and approve comprehensive IT strategies;strategies;

Create an effective IT human Resource policy;Create an effective IT human Resource policy; Study carefully the EU compatibility issues of Study carefully the EU compatibility issues of

national declaration processing systems;national declaration processing systems; Try to make maximum use of internet facilities;Try to make maximum use of internet facilities; If use is made of outsourcing, pay special If use is made of outsourcing, pay special

attention to quality management & service level attention to quality management & service level agreements for maintenance and support.agreements for maintenance and support.

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Particular issue:Particular issue: compatibility between EU systems compatibility between EU systems and current or future declaration and current or future declaration

processing systems !processing systems !

Of particular concern are : Tariff related systems (such as

TARIC, Quota, etc.) NCTS VAT and Excise data management

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Preference should be given to systems which:

Recommendation:

•useuse latest technologylatest technology,,

• areare EU compatibleEU compatible andand

• havehave proven track record.proven track record.

.

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What if your system is not EU-compatible ?

It is recommended to study carefully the It is recommended to study carefully the situation and assess the risks involved:situation and assess the risks involved: List the functions which are not EU-compatible List the functions which are not EU-compatible

and document the problem;and document the problem; Estimate efforts needed (human and financial Estimate efforts needed (human and financial

resources);resources); Assess impact of adaptations on other parts of Assess impact of adaptations on other parts of

the system (compatibility of technical platform, the system (compatibility of technical platform, Operating systems and other software needed).Operating systems and other software needed).

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What if your system is not EU-compatible ?

In order to diminish the risks involved, it is In order to diminish the risks involved, it is recommended to:recommended to: Work out a detailed planning for the upgrade;Work out a detailed planning for the upgrade; Monitor carefully the progress by means of Monitor carefully the progress by means of

mandatory inspection points;mandatory inspection points; Link contractual payments to acceptance tests of Link contractual payments to acceptance tests of

the system;the system; Ensure ownership of the system and establish Ensure ownership of the system and establish

contracts for support & maintenance which contracts for support & maintenance which guarantee a clear service level.guarantee a clear service level.

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What will the Taxation and Customs Union

Directorate General of the European Commission provide to the Customs

Administrations of the Candidate Countries ?

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First tasks ahead First tasks ahead (1 of 3)?(1 of 3)?

Making available system documentation Making available system documentation and information:and information:A first package with limited A first package with limited

documentation has been distributed;documentation has been distributed;A complete documentation package A complete documentation package

is being assembled and will be made is being assembled and will be made available in the next days;available in the next days;

A system for updates is under A system for updates is under preparation (distribution via web-preparation (distribution via web-site).site).

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First tasks ahead First tasks ahead (2 of 3)?(2 of 3)??? Providing management and planning Providing management and planning

assistance :assistance :A generic implementation strategy A generic implementation strategy

paper (including a time plan) will paper (including a time plan) will be developed;be developed;

A project framework plan will be A project framework plan will be developed;developed;

Standard ‘system by system’ plans Standard ‘system by system’ plans will be developed and made will be developed and made available.available.

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First tasks ahead First tasks ahead (3 of 3)?(3 of 3)??? Providing further assistance :Providing further assistance :

organisation of seminars on a system organisation of seminars on a system by system are being considered;by system are being considered;

making available management and making available management and technical support are also being technical support are also being considered;considered;

conformance tests will be organised at conformance tests will be organised at least for some systems before they least for some systems before they enter into operation.enter into operation.

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Key Recommendations for candidate countries

administrations: Increase the Enlargement priority levelIncrease the Enlargement priority level

Prepare a national action plan for Prepare a national action plan for each system;each system;

Take action to secure sufficient Take action to secure sufficient human and financial new resources!human and financial new resources!

Install a system for close monitoring Install a system for close monitoring of progress by top managementof progress by top management

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Key Recommendations for candidate countries

administrations: Improve the information flow in your Improve the information flow in your

organisation:organisation: Prepare, disseminate and make Prepare, disseminate and make

the information available within the information available within the organisation (e.g. documents, the organisation (e.g. documents, plans, etc. on intra-web) so that plans, etc. on intra-web) so that people are sufficiently informed.people are sufficiently informed.

OrganiseOrganise Seminars & Workshops Seminars & Workshops to inform, explain, motivate, etc.to inform, explain, motivate, etc.

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Key Recommendations for candidate countries

administrations: Improve the information flow with the Improve the information flow with the

European Commission:European Commission: Nominate a contact person for the Nominate a contact person for the

interconnectivity issuesinterconnectivity issues Consult regularly the Commission Consult regularly the Commission

web-site and project web-sites (e.g. web-site and project web-sites (e.g. NCTS).NCTS).

Keep records of relevant documents Keep records of relevant documents so they can be used in the so they can be used in the administration;administration;

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A bold statement :A bold statement :

It is primarily the responsibility of It is primarily the responsibility of the Customs and Tax the Customs and Tax administrations of the Candidate administrations of the Candidate Countries to ensure that a Countries to ensure that a satisfactory level of IT operational satisfactory level of IT operational capacity is achieved by the time of capacity is achieved by the time of accession to the EUaccession to the EU!!

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“Single contact point”Contact person for Customs and Contact person for Customs and Taxation interconnectivity issues:Taxation interconnectivity issues:

Frank Janssens, Taxation and Customs Union DG,Taxation and Customs Union DG,Rue de la Loi 200, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 BrusselsB-1049 BrusselsTel: +32.2.29.54.839Tel: +32.2.29.54.839Fax: +32.2.29.55.658Fax: +32.2.29.55.658

E-mail: ‘Frank.Janssens@cec.eu.int’‘Frank.Janssens@cec.eu.int’.

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Final conclusions:Final conclusions:

It is not too late but It is not too late but it is timeit is time ! !

Matters need to be addressed Matters need to be addressed immediately to be ready in time !immediately to be ready in time !

Additional human and financialAdditional human and financialresources are probably required !resources are probably required !

A strong commitment of the A strong commitment of the management will be required to management will be required to achieve a success !achieve a success !