Nordic Customs Leaders Back Ukraine’s Reform Drive
March 31, 2025
Last week, customs Director Generals from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden visited Kyiv to support Ukraine’s reform of its customs system, efforts to strengthen border security, and the fight against illicit trafficking. The successful efforts of Ukrainian Customs during the ongoing war were recognized, and the customs authorities of the Nordic countries can leverage this information to enhance their own preparedness. The visit was organised with the support of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, the high-level meetings involved a wide range of Ukrainian stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the State Customs Service (SCS), the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU), the Integrated State Border Management Coordination Centre, the Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Situational Centre.
The discussions emphasised shared interests, mutual benefits, and future cooperation. The alignment of Ukraine’s customs legislation with EU standards was addressed, particularly the update of the Customs Code and the implementation of the EU’s New Computerised Transit System (NCTS). Discussions touched on tackling corruption, salary systems and transparent merit-based recruitment. Talks also covered upgrades to IT systems, the use of European digital solutions, and modernised risk management and post-clearance controls.
“The development of customs policy is one of the most important tasks for Ukraine as a candidate country for accession to the European Union,” said Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko. “Despite the full-scale Russian military aggression, Ukrainian customs has demonstrated significant achievements in adopting EU standards and enhancing digitalisation.” He also thanked the Nordic countries for their continued support.
Echoing this, Serhii Zviahintsev, Head of the SCS, said most of Ukraine’s customs legislation already aligns with the EU framework. “By the end of the year, we plan to adopt an updated Customs Code fully aligned with the European model. This is an important step towards Ukraine’s integration into the European customs area,” he said.
The head of the Nordic delegation, Director General of Finnish Customs Sami Rakshit, described Ukraine’s reform plans as ambitious and wide-ranging. “You are not only balancing efforts to neutralise the negative impacts of armed aggression, but also successfully pursuing development,” he said.
“From EUAM’s side, we stand ready to provide support to help Ukraine join the European Union and implement European best practices,” said Mikko Groenberg, Deputy Head of Operations at EUAM.
During talks with ESBU officials, the focus turned to smuggling investigations, data sharing and coordination on economic crime. Acting Director Serhii Perkhun outlined the bureau’s recent achievements and stressed the value of Nordic cooperation in tackling cross-border crime.
The delegation also visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Situational Centre, the Integrated State Border Management Coordination Centre and the Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms. The visit highlighted Ukraine’s integrated approach to border security, including sharing of analytical reports and close cooperation between customs and law enforcement agencies.
The Nordic delegation gained valuable insights into Ukraine’s ongoing customs reforms. These efforts – focused on reducing corruption, improving efficiency and meeting EU standards – are expected to guide further cooperation with Nordic and other international partners.
