site.btaCustoms Agency Checks Activities of Bulgarian Companies for Circumvention of Sanctions on Russia

Bulgaria's Customs Agency Director Pavel Tonev said the activities of certain Bulgarian companies included in the list of over 21,000 high-risk companies provided by the European Commission were being analysed for possible circumvention of sanctions. He addressed the 105th meeting of the Customs Policy Group of the European Commission's Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) in Brussels.

Tonev suggested that a channel be launched for direct exchange of information between EU Member States and third countries for collecting reliable evidence of the circumvention of sanctions on Russia. Proving sanctions circumvention requires the engagement of third countries involved in the commercial supply chain, which is not effective enough at present, Tonev said.

He commented that the Bulgarian Customs administration highly appreciates the work of the Sanctions Enforcement Coordination Mechanism. "As to high-priority goods and those of great economic interest to Russia, an organization is in place to prevent the circumvention of sanctions, mainly through risk profiles," he said.

The development of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism relating to customs and the reform of the World Customs Organisation were on the agenda of the meeting.

The Customs Policy Group of DG TAXUD meets twice a year. The heads of customs administrations of the Member States and the European Commission discuss strategic issues for the development of the Customs Union.