One of the basic tasks and priorities of the Customs Administration is to ensure the efficient collection of revenues, which are realized during the implementation of customs and excise procedures, based on the collection of VAT on importation, excise duties and customs duties. In 2022, the Customs Administration collectedla revenues in the total amount of 119,15 billion denars, or 1,9 billion euros.

The Director of the Customs Administration, Slavica Kutirov, in an interview with Utrinski Pechat on Slobodna TV, says that last year in March, an amendment to the Law on Customs Tariff was adopted, which reduced customs rates behind 251 tariffи signsи which refer to priority goods used as raw materials and repromaterials in the manufacturing industry.

The Customs Administration has been involved in the activities implemented through the regional initiative "Open Balkans" from the very beginning. These activities are aimed at the so-called 4 European freedoms namely: free movement of people, capital, goods and services- says Kutirov.

The basis of the activities in which the Customs Administration is involved is the Memorandum for the facilitation of import, export and the movement of goods signed by the prime ministers of the three countries on July 29, 2021. What is very important is that the implementation of these activities is coordinated at a high government level, which allows them to be implemented with accelerated dynamics. In the past two years, a significant concept of Joint border controls (one - stop - shop) was fully established at the Tabanovce - Preševo ​​highway, and it will soon beginis to apply and at GP Qafasan with Albania. Otherwise, at the moment of the Tabanovce - Preševo ​​border crossing, 10 entrance lanes are functioning without interruption, namely: 2 for lorries, 1 for buses and 7 for passenger vehicles.

- In March of this year, the Governments of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia signed a new Memorandum on measures to promote the movement of people and goods across the common state border, within which work is currently being done in coordination with the Serbian side to expand the "narrow throats" and improving traffic access, both at the entrance and exit of the Tabanovce - Preševo ​​highway, which aims to enable the timely positioning of vehicles in the space between the two crossings and their even redistribution on each of the lanes, which in turn will further affect of flow acceleration- says Kutirov.

In the period that follows, the measure for recognition of weighing certificates, or the so-called "weighing notes" of cargo vehicles between the Customs Administrations of the two countries, which will mean that they will not have to be re-weighed upon entering one of the two countries.

- Or to make it clearer for the viewers what the benefits of all these activities are, I would give a mathematical example. If you are the 50th vehicle in the waiting line, every minute shorter completion of checks at the border line itself will mean you will wait 50 minutes less- says Kutirov.

Digitization of customs operations is a very important part on which all countries in the world are focused, primarily developed and European countries. Уnia. The goal of digitization is to unify, facilitate and accelerate the flow of goods and international trade in its entirety and thereby ensure greater competitiveness of companies and growth of international trade.

- Digitization is a priority of the Government and is the focus of many state institutions. The benefits of the digitalization of Customs and the facilitation of trade target over 11.000 domestic companies – active participants in import-export customs procedures.

A significant novelty with which we have completely rounded it off duty free working in customs procedures and what we are particularly proud of are the new services put into operation in November 2022 with the so-called green customs declaration. The services offered by the green customs declaration allow economic operators remotely, without intervention and physical interaction with the customs officer, to complete the procedure in one hour and release the goods into free circulation. says Kutirov.

Вat 2022 The customs fornoteala doubling of the number of cases of prevention of illicit trade in all categories: 114 cases in 2022, compared to 58 cases in 2021 and 2020.

-Kif more significant seizures, I will highlight 8 cases in which more than 8 tons of drugs and psychotropic substances were seized. In 5 cases, a total of 33,8 kg of gold with a value of about 1.5 million euros was seized, and we also note 13 cases of seizure of foreign currency in the amount of about 600.000 euros. Also, cigarettes, tobacco and tobacco products were seized for which duties were evaded, including excise duty of EUR 87.571. says Kutirov.

This trend continues in 2023. From the beginning of 2023 are among the more significant 2 cases with about 50 kilograms of seized drugs and psychotropic substances, 9 cases of seizure of excise goods (tobacco and tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and hookah tobacco), 2 cases of seizure of gold, including the last one in March 2023 out of 43 kg. gold jewelry, with a total estimated value of over 2,3 million euros. These are also Mrmajor challenges for customs officers in the area of ​​preventing illegal trade. These are goods that are prohibited for trading or goods that, if declared, are subject to high duties or special permits.

-But in our daily work, we also have other cases of seizures – of coffee, aquarium turtles, parrots, IPR products – with protected intellectual property rights, and others. Great importance in discovery on these goods have customs dogs that are trained for theirs detection, primarily drugs and psychotropic substances, and everything use and mobile scanners- says Kutirov.

A case of foreclosure which frankly her surpriseл, is an unusual case since the beginning of the year, when 35 kg were discovered and seized in a special factory cavity of a bus with the help of a mobile scanner. coffee beans.

- In this case, the evaded duties were insignificant, but the way it was hidden leaves room for doubt and these cases should be investigated in detail, in order to reveal the true intention, that is, not infrequently, criminal groups make rehearsals in front of a larger organized illegal transport that should follow- says the director.

He addressed the citizens with the information that they can bring in products they bought abroad, worth up to 350 euros (with the exception of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, perfumes). When asked ifcustoms officers have been suspended in the past period, Kutirov said that cIn 2022, we received a total of 46 reports of unprofessional behavior of customs officers, and Sthe professional responsibility department of the CU has conducted 94 internal investigations and 69 internal controls, а 28 procedures were initiated to determine disciplinary responsibility.

-Based on procedures for determining disciplinary responsibility, as well as advices initiatedи investigationи for indictment, in the period from 2021 until today, 8 customs officers have been suspended from their jobs, and one has been dismissed.

Зthe opening of the screening process last year gave a new impetus to the work of the Customs Administration.

-This past period we were strongly committed to the preparation for the bilateral meeting on Chapter 29, which will be held this week in Brussels. Within these activities, over 100 EC regulations and national laws and acts were opened and analyzed, in order to scan the current state of where we are in terms of compliance with EU legislation, but also in terms of their implementation. Of course, we will receive the final assessments and assignments in the report from the EC, after the bilateral screening- says Kutirov.

Watch the entire interview with Slavica Kutirov, director of the Customs Administration, in the video: