Subject files - Instrument for financial support for customs control equipment - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

The proposal for a Regulation on Establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for financial support for customs control equipment. The proposal is part of the MFF package and is part of the Integrated Border Management Fund. This new instrument intends to offer financial support for the purchase of customs control equipment to the Member States’ customs authorities that would request so.

A gap analysis was performed by the European Commission in the framework of the feedback obtained by Member States that have borders with non-EU States in the East of Europe.

In the proposal of the Commission, the equipment to be financed (with participation of the EU budget from 80% to 100%) will be considered as being of dual use by customs control and by border control authorities. The ownership should remain with the customs authorities.The main focus of the European Parliament is ensuring that the equipment financed under the Instrument is used primarily for customs control, but may be used for additional purposes and that software directly necessary for the use of customs control equipment is included under the Instrument, as well as ensuring transparency of the actions and results of the Instrument.

The proposal is still under negotiation.