“Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements”
UN/CEFACT RECOMMENDATION No. 33
RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
“A LOCAL SINGLE WINDOW (PORT COMMUNITY SYSTEM) FOR THE PORTS IN THE ODESSA REGION IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION OF UKRAINE”
Odessa, 30 MAY 2012
The second International Seminar on Trade Facilitation “A Local Single Window (Port Community System) for the Ports in the Odessa Region in the Perspective of the European Integration of Ukraine” was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Ukrainian National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Ukraine) and under support of Association of freight-forwarding organizations of Ukraine “UKRZOVNISHTRANS” in Odessa, on 30 May 2012.
The Seminar was attended by representatives of UNECE, the Comité international des transports ferroviaires (CIT), the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), Ukrainian authorities, the business community as well as representatives from Moldova, Lithuania, Russia, European Port Community Systems Association (EPCSA), Bureau Veritas, TRACECA, the U.S. Agency for Technical Cooperation (USAID), etc.
The participants discussed the progress of Single Window project after the first Seminar, held on June 1, 2011. In particular, there has been progress in establishing the institutional framework for the project: an Interagency Working Group to support the project was established, which has already held three meetings. The port of Odessa has already started the implementation of a Port Community System. Port authorities and PLASKE JSC have signed a Memorandum on Cooperation for the implementation of this project.
The participants noted the relevance of this Seminar in the perspective of the growing role of the simplification and automation of trade procedures, the strategic position of Ukraine as a transit country, and its economic integration into Europe. Mr Pavel Pashko, Advisor to the Chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, informed the participants on the entry into force of the modernized Customs Code of Ukraine (June 1, 2012). He reported that new elements were introduced into the Code, aimed at the facilitation of Customs procedures and international trade. He also reported on the progress achieved in the implementation of the recommendations elaborated by the participants of the first UNECE Seminar, held on 1 June 2011 in Odessa, Ukraine.
The day before the Seminar, 29 May 2012, a technical visit to the Port of Odessa took place, where port authorities presented the implementation of electronic systems for information exchange among relevant agencies within the Port: e-pass, automated access control systems, etc. Further, the Port Authorities will introduce an electronic manifest, an electronic disbursement voucher, and other innovative solutions. On the current stage, the plans envisage the full introduction of a Local Single Window – a Port Community System. The Port of Odessa and the Customs Service of Ukraine have signed an agreement on collaboration on the first phase of the Single Window, which would be launched on 22 May 2012. The system will be supported by the business community, in particular, PLASKE JSC, and will be based on recognized international standards for trade information exchange.
The following Recommendations were adopted:
Continue implementing the recommendations from 1 June 2011 with regard to conduct studies, at the national and local levels, on:
(a) establishing the degree of interoperability of technical systems of trade control agencies and representatives of the business community;
(b) the readiness of these systems for an electronic trade data interchange;
(c) the compliance of document forms and technical systems with the international standards, on which the Single Window should be based;
(d) determining the necessary amendments in legislation, regulations and organization of work of the regulatory authorities and the business community for the implementation of a Single Window mechanism;
