Alignment with European Standards
Despite ongoing wartime pressures, Ukrainian customs continue to modernize, showing consistent progress in EU integration, digital reform, and business cooperation.
In the third quarter of 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft of the new Customs Code of Ukraine, which has now been submitted to the European Commission for assessment. This marks the completion of legal harmonization between Ukrainian and EU customs legislation, creating a framework tailored to support Ukrainian businesses operating in the European market.
Institutional and Legal Modernization
Key administrative steps included the unification of customs registers, introduction of standardized certification for customs officers, and expansion of cooperation with the private sector.
The European Commission acknowledged Ukraine’s significant progress and recommended granting the State Customs Service the status of a law enforcement agency — strengthening its institutional role in combating smuggling and cross-border crime.
Ukraine also completed bilateral screening under Chapter 29 (“Customs Union”), moving closer to opening the EU negotiation cluster on accession fundamentals.
Business Partnership and Transparency
The Ministry of Finance reported growing dialogue between customs authorities and business associations, especially regarding the new Customs Code.
Entrepreneurs emphasized improvements in service quality and procedural transparency, particularly for Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs). By the end of Q3 2025, 104 companies had received 109 AEO authorizations and over 1,250 other customs simplifications, streamlining cross-border operations for compliant businesses.
Digital Transformation and Common Transit
Ukraine’s integration into the EU Common Transit Convention continues to yield strong results. In Q3 2025, over 35,700 transit declarations were processed through the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) — a record high and 1,800 more than in the previous quarter.
The signing of a contract to develop NCTS Phase 6 marks a new stage of digital interaction with EU customs systems.
Simultaneously, the “Risk Profile Manager” IT platform is under development to strengthen risk-based inspections, while modern scanning and data systems are being installed at border checkpoints to reduce manual control and abuse.
Revenue and Enforcement Performance
Despite preferential import conditions for essential and energy-saving goods (now accounting for 26% of import benefits), customs revenues to the state budget remain stable.
Coordinated actions with law enforcement agencies have led to the dismantling of a counterfeit pesticide network and the exposure of illegal car import schemes disguised as humanitarian aid.
Outlook and Investment Context
With 50% of Ukraine’s trade turnover now linked to the EU, customs modernization plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic recovery and European integration.
For investors, these developments signal a more predictable, transparent, and digitally equipped trade environment, reducing logistical risks and aligning Ukraine’s border procedures with European trade infrastructure standards — a crucial factor for industrial exporters and logistics operators expanding into the Ukrainian market.
