21 February 2008, 17:37
Taking part in the meeting were the Project Consultant, Robert Peacock, Acting Manager of Regional Projects in Ukraine and Moldova; Christian Yarnell, a Diplomat from the Economic Department of the United States Embassy, and Robert Oslon, Customs Matters Advisor at the United States Embassy in Kyiv.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Programme to Control Corruption, aimed at removing corruption in Ukraine, was presented at the meeting, with a section concerning the Action Plan for the State Customs Service of Ukraine.
Members of the US Delegations noted that a Customs Centre for Legal Development has been set up with support from their Programme, which has the task of integrating the Ukrainian Customs System with the European one. Special emphasis was placed on the need for Ukraine to subscribe to the new Freight Transit Computer System, which has been operating in the European Union for four years. To date The Ukrainian Government has not agreed to effect this joining.
They also expressed their willingness to provide assistance to the Fiscal and Customs Policy Committee in the review of, and making improvements to, legal enactments, and in organising training for Customs experts.
The Committee Chairman, Serhiy Teriokhin, expressed his gratitude for the assistance offered by the US Embassy, and undertook to put before the Ukrainian Prime Minister the issue of Ukraine joining the European Common Transit Convention, and installing the New Freight Transit Computer System. At the same time he feels that initially Ukraine requires the setting up of a unified electronic database and Internal Monitoring System, connecting five State structures: The State Tax Administration of Ukraine, The State Customs Service of Ukraine, The State Treasury of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, and rent collection departments.