Ministry of Finance approves strategic plan for the digitalization of the State Customs Service

The Ministry of Finance has approved the Long-Term National Strategic Plan for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization of the State Customs Service, a guiding document for the implementation and development of customs information systems for the coming years.

The plan is designed to last until 2026 and provides for

• introduction of cybersecurity principles;
• implementation of paperless procedures;
• building reliable and modern customs IT systems.

Successful implementation of these transformations will provide the Ukrainian customs IT system with the necessary tools to fight corruption and fraud.

The document has been developed in the context of Ukraine's preparation for accession to the European Union and the implementation of the Association Agreement in terms of harmonization of customs processes with European standards. Special attention is paid to fulfilling all requirements for future integration into EU systems.

The National Digitalization Plan for Ukrainian Customs is based on the EU's Multi-annual Strategic Plan for Electronic Customs (MASP-C). The EU4PFM team provided expert support in its preparation.

Key principles of the Long-term National Strategic Plan for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization of the State Customs Service

The basis of the IT strategy of the State Customs Service, in particular, is defined as

- service-oriented architecture,

- centralized implementation of the UAIS,

- harmonized interface with the EU and the Single Window for International Trade.

The document pays special attention to the introduction of cyber defense principles. First of all, it is about ensuring

• recording and tracking the history of requests for data changes;
• protection against unauthorized access to information;
• Impossibility of changing or losing data logs;
• impossibility of changing information and documents provided by users using a qualified electronic signature.

The EU's current priorities include the introduction of paperless procedures. In customs, the Electronic Customs Initiative is being implemented for this purpose. To implement E-Customs, a Multi-annual strategic plan for electronic customs (MASP-C) has been developed, a planning document covering all IT-related customs projects.

The State Customs Service has envisioned a phased approach to the implementation of eCustoms:

- business analysis, policy, and legalization;

- development of the system's technical specification;

- creation of specifications for integration with external systems;

- development and implementation of the system.

In the process of IT transformation, the State Customs Service will use business process management and BPM modeling to ensure a holistic view of customs processes and the practical implications of their implementation in accordance with the customs legislation of Ukraine and the EU.