Cooperating with other authorities and aligning programmes have been identified as key ways of further developing a robust AEO programme. The goal is to ensure global supply chain security and to avoid duplication of efforts and costs for authorities and economic operators.
As such, cooperation on an international level has been incorporated since the beginning in the WCO SAFE framework of standards as well as in EU legislation.
At EU level, work has been initiated in several areas (e.g. aviation security, maritime, export controls, etc.), to identify synergies and avoid duplication of administrative burden.
The EU strategy for customs risk management has a crucial role in this area, in particular the inclusion of a specific objective related to interagency cooperation and information sharing between customs and other authorities.
Certificates/authorisations in other areas
There are also a number of certificates or authorisations in other policy areas for which the requirements are identical or similar to one or more of the AEO criteria, or directly linked to the AEO status:
Civil aviation
(Regulated Agent, Known Consignor, Account Consignor)
If a holder of an AEO authorisation for safety and security (AEOS) applies for the status of Regulated Agent (RA) or Known Consignor (KC), they are considered to meet the respective security requirements if the criteria for issuing the AEO status are identical or correspond to those for RA or KC status.
The same principle applies vice versa.
For Account Consignors (AC), holders of an AEOS authorisation do not need to sign the declaration of commitments to be an 'account consignor’ and are recognised as an AC by the Regulated Agent – if all other requirements under EU legislation on aviation security are met.
Fisheries
Approved Economic Operator (APEO)
Economic operators dealing with fishery products and catch certificates can apply for the status of APEO. This should entitle them to use simplified procedures for importing fishery products into the EU.
To receive APEO status, they must first have AEO status, as laid down in the relevant regulations. If they already hold an AEOS authorisation, the application process is simplified.