Russia, EU step up customs cooperation
The establishment of a joint customs system was on the agenda when leader of the Russian Customs Service yesterday met with EU Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs.
The goal with our meetings is the establishment of a joint Russian-EU customs system, Russian Customs leader Andrei Belyaninov confirms in a press release.
That includes the development of customs infrastructure, harmonization and facilitation of customs procedures and handling of goods, as well as exchange of information, the Russian Customs service informs.
The customs cooperation is also discussed within the frames of the ongoing negotiations over a new Russian-EU Partnership Agreement.
The EU is Russia’s by far main trading partner, accounting for 52,3 percent of its overall trade turnover in 2008.
The EU in 2008 exported goods worth a total of 105 billion EUR to Russia, while Russian exports to the Union the same year amounted to 173,2 billion EUR, the EU Commission informs.
