No. 8/05
January 17, 2004

EU COMMISSIONER FOR TAXATION AND CUSTOMS, LÁSZLΌ KOVÁCS, MEETS TOM RIDGE

European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Lászlό Kovács met on January 13th with outgoing US Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge. Commissioner Kovács and Secretary Ridge discussed the very fruitful customs cooperation between the US and the EU in improving the security of transatlantic maritime container transport and the promotion of EU/US standards worldwide. "I would like to thank Secretary Ridge for his significant contribution to the successful cooperation between US Customs and Border Protection, the European Commission and EU Member States' Customs Administrations," said Mr. Kovács. "I look forward to the continuation of this close cooperation with his successor."

Commissioner Kovács and Secretary Ridge noted that the EU and the US are heading towards practical solutions that facilitate legitimate transatlantic trade while ensuring the security of containers from all locations that are imported into, transhipped or transit the EU and the US. They both agreed that the EU and US partnership in the development of security standards for the supply chain should aim at setting global standards and international coordinated solutions to security.