Government: Bill on customs services in line with EU standards

At its session on Thursday the government adopted a bill on customs services which will adapt customs in line with new obligations once Croatia joins the European Union on July 1.

Finance Minister Slavko Linic advised that as of 1 July Croatia's customs administration would not only protect borders from illegal goods transport but would be responsible for fiscal controls of EU revenue which means curbing any form of impermissible conduct relating to customs and Value Added Tax (VAT).
In the future the most important role our customs administration will have is to supervise fiscal discipline not only for Croatia but for EU revenue too which includes the fight against the grey economy, Linic said.
With the changes in addition to the central office, four branch offices are being introduced in Zagreb, Osijek, Split and Rijeka, 18 customs offices in other areas of Croatia and 10 border customs offices.
The customs administration will be restructured in hierarchy similar to the interior ministry in order to identify individual responsibilities within the system.
That will complete the organisational changes and we will be ready for July 1, he said.
The government also adopted bills concerning certain customs items. Instead of two separate laws one unified law is being introduced with various tax rates and payment delays - special excises will no longer be paid at border crossings but when turnover of the products are realised.
(Hina)




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