Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko and his Deputy for European Integration Yuriy Drahanchuk presented their vision and plans for further implementation of customs reform to ambassadors and representatives of the G7 missions in Ukraine.
According to the Ministry's press service, the discussions focused on the Ukrainian government's steps in developing and reforming the State Customs Service, as well as the concept of transparent selection of customs officials.
According to Marchenko, reforming the State Customs Service is one of Ukraine's priorities in the process of integration into the EU.
"We aim to transform Ukrainian customs into the eastern border of Europe in line with EU standards and at the same time strengthen its security function. Even in the midst of a full-scale war, Ukraine is successfully implementing such changes with the support of international partners," the Minister said.
Customs reform is envisaged by the Ukraine Plan under the EU's Ukraine Facility, the National Revenue Strategy for 2024-2030, and is also one of the structural pillars of the IMF's Extended Fund Facility programme.
Drahanchuk stressed that the Ministry continues to work actively on the implementation of EU customs legislation and the development of a new Customs Code, as well as on the introduction of IT and other common customs procedures to develop foreign economic activity and simplify business.
The ambassadors and representatives of the G7 embassies in Ukraine noted the Government's transparency in the action plan and the reform implementation process, and expressed their readiness to continue detailed discussions on the necessary reform steps.
According to the Ministry of Finance, since the beginning of 2024, customs revenues to the State Budget of Ukraine have reached about UAH 329 billion (as of the end of July 2024). Under martial law, all domestic resources are directed to the security and defence sector.