Jimanory No. 4 Customs Officers
Something I recently heard on the radio, reminded me of events surrounding the creation of the European Single Market in 1993.
As a lecturer in International Trade – it was, of course, very relevant to the course content and possible examination questions and to the annual Study Tours of the E.U. institutions, which we organised for the students – a number of which visits – provided some background information not publicly available.
Most of it is absolutely true.
The Single Market
I apologise if I am insulting your intelligence – but I am keeping it to basics, and it was over thirty years ago.
In simple terms it was designed to remove all internal barriers to movements of – what were termed – The ‘Four Freedoms’
i.e. Free Movement of –
- Goods
- People (‘Persons’ in the legislation)
- Services
& Capital (Money)
.- within the E.U.
And – the establishment of a single Customs frontier around all – then 27, members of the EU in which all Custom’s controls would be aligned i.e. the same. So, wherever any of the four categories were entering the Single Market – they receive the same Customs controls – such as duty, tax, immigration and declarations to Customs – wherever they entered the EU. Often referred to as the –
‘Customs Union.’
- That’s where we ‘are now – well I say ‘we’ but while there are currently still 27 members – the U.K is not one of them (‘nuff said’.).
Customs Redundancies –
It may already have occurred to some readers that – in the Single Market – there was no need for internal Customs Posts – only external posts were needed – like a wall around all members of the EU, where goods or people could enter the EU from outside i.e. from a non-member and controls – particularly on goods and people – would have to be applied.
Any post which could only be reached after an external post had allowed transit through -was redundant.
I have found it impossible to access any official statistics on the number of posts and officers lost – maybe the EU didn’t think it needed publishing.
Anecdotal information and quizzing EU officials tends to lack any detail. But there is no doubt that – over 27 member states- There will have been many hundreds of posts closed and each could have had anything from two to ten officers i.e, possibly, thousands.
But the EU had a solution to help one of their most important public services – important because it wasn’t just controlling movements but collecting large amounts of government revenues -in the form of import duties, excise, VAT, Indirect taxes and penalties – this is even more evident in the UK – where HM Customs & Excise (collector of indirect taxes) is now merged with the Inland Revenue (collector of direct taxes) as – HMRC – His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.
The EU solution was a major programme of re-training for redundant Customs officers – known as the St. Mathew Project. Because? ?
St. Mathew is the Patron Saint of Tax Collectors and Accountants!
N.B. The next little snippet – dates back to my days as lecturer and trainer in international trade – and was often delivered – as a punchline to presentations – to audiences of exporters / importers and freight forwarders – and always got a good laugh.
After I posted it – I ran it past a visiting friend – and hardly got a smile.
I reaalised that – she had never worked in international trade and did not have any existing opinions about Customs Officers.
Unlike – in my experience – most experienced exporter/importers – wo do not have much positive to say about Customs Officers and many can be quite critical – even caustic about them.
My Opinion – generally, most are doing their best in a difficult job. Having had close contact with many – often sharing stages at presentations and conferences – there’s been plenty I would – and did – have a drink and a chat with – but there was ptobably more – who – how shall I say – ‘let their uniforms go to their head (even when not wearing one).
It’s in that light – that the next five lines should be read –
I was also told, off the record – of another project – not made public -where officers were re-employed into testing laboratories to replace the rats normally used – this was –
cleverly – based on some advantages that ex – Customs personnel had over the rats:
- There were more of them than the rats –
- They were willing to do things that the rats just refused to do-
And
- The staff didn’t get so emotionally attached to them!
OK – it’s probably – not true. – but you can laugh now!