Customs: Ukraine to join the Common Transit Convention and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods on 1 October 2022

Ukraine has been formally invited to join to the EU-Common Transit Countries’ Convention on a Common Transit Procedure and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods. It deposited its instruments of accession to the Conventions in August and can therefore operate common transit from 1 October 2022. This is an important step forward in Ukraine’s pre-accession strategy, and will greatly support the work on Solidarity Lanes to and from Ukraine.

These Conventions enable goods to move much more easily between the EU and the Common Transit Countries (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and UK). Simplified rules, such as mutually recognised financial guarantees and less controls, help to cut down on costs for EU and partner country businesses, while facilitating and boosting trade. As such, Ukraine’s participation in these Conventions will facilitate trade between Ukraine and EU Member States, as well as other common transit countries.