Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Croatia, and in particular Article 3(4) thereof,

Having regard to the Act concerning the Conditions of Accession of Croatia, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

On 9 December 2011, the Member States of the Union and Croatia signed the Treaty concerning the accession of Croatia to the European Union (‘Treaty of Accession’). By virtue of Article 3(3) of the Treaty of Accession it is to enter into force on 1 July 2013 provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited before that date.

According to Article 2 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of Croatia and the adjustments to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (‘the Act concerning the conditions of accession’), from the date of accession, the provisions of the original Treaties and the acts adopted by the institutions before accession shall be binding on Croatia under the conditions laid down in those Treaties and in the Act concerning the conditions of accession.

The territory of Neum (‘Neum Corridor’) is a place where the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina reaches the Adriatic coast, thus separating the area of Dubrovnik from the rest of the territory of Croatia. Tourism is of significant importance for the local economy, which is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises dependent on supplies from the rest of the territory of Croatia. The value of such supplies usually does not exceed EUR 10 000 per consignment and 89 % of those goods have the status of goods in free circulation on the territory of Croatia.

Article 43 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession provides that the Council, acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, is to define the terms under which the requirement for an entry or exit summary declaration may be waived as regards Union goods that are moved across the Neum Corridor.

According to Articles 36a, 36b, 182a and 182b of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code^f1 (‘the Community Customs Code’), goods brought into or leaving the customs territory of the Union shall be covered, in advance, by a summary declaration submitted electronically which contains the particulars necessary for the performance of risk analysis.

Given the specific characteristics of the local economy it is appropriate to provide for waivers from the obligation to lodge entry and exit summary declarations for Union goods moved across the Neum Corridor.

Customs authorities should perform risk analysis and customs security checks on the basis of the data present on the invoice and transport documents accompanying the goods.

The current arrangements derogate from the principle of electronic pre-departure and pre-arrival submission of safety and security data set up under the Community Customs Code. In order to ensure effective and efficient risk analysis and controls for the purposes of safety and security, Croatia should ensure that the border crossing points at the Neum Corridor have the necessary human resources, equipment and control.

Where a consignment is found not to fulfil the requirements of this Regulation, the consignment in question should not be allowed to re-enter the territory of Croatia unless an assessment of the risk involved has been carried out and effective and targeted measures based upon a risk analysis have been adopted.

In addition to the exchange of information for the purposes of safety and security as provided for under Article 4g(2) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code^f2, Croatia should regularly inform the Commission under the procedures of the Common Risk Management Framework of any irregularities found and, where applicable, of measures subsequently adopted with regard to the movement of goods across the Neum Corridor.

An assessment for the purposes of verifying the proper application of this Regulation should be carried out by the Commission not later than two years after the date of Croatia’s accession,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: