The Role of the Customs System in Ensuring EU Competitiveness in Conditions of Sustainable Development

At the present stage, there is a problem of ensuring the sustainable development at all levels. The United Nations has declared 17 Global Goals that must be realized by subjects of mega-, macro-, meso- and microlevels, including customs authorities. In the context of European integration, an important task for Ukraine is to increase competitiveness following the example of successful European states. At the same time, the competitiveness of the country is a multifaceted and multidimensional concept that is influenced by numerous environmental factors. At the present stage, one of the key determinants of the state’s competitiveness is its sustainable development. Today, the concept of sustainable development is a new challenge for national customs systems, that’s why it is appeared the need to justify their role in achieving the Global Goals to increase the country’s competitiveness.

The Sustainable Development Goals exist immanently in the basic functions performed by the customs authorities. After all, the service function of customs bodies is aimed at simplifying customs and trade procedures for law-abiding business in order to intensify international trade as a basis for economic growth. The security and control function of the customs system provides for the protection of the state and its citizens from dangerous and low-quality products that pose a threat to human health and life. The fiscal function of customs authorities is aimed at filling the state budget with customs payments in order to finance the priority areas of the country’s development.

Achieving the Global Goals is made possible through the use of a variety of customs documents and tools that need to be improved towards sustainable development. Thus, customs authorities are involved in overcoming poverty and hunger in the world by intensifying global trade flows, which, accordingly, provides additional opportunities for employment and filling the state budget with taxes. In this context, it is a matter of assisting the customs authorities to achieve the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 16th and 17th Sustainable Development Goals. In modern conditions, international trade plays a significant role in shaping a stable economy and the welfare of society. In this context, customs authorities contribute to the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th and 17th Global Goals by reducing trade barriers to form inclusive societies. Customs are also involved in protecting the planet and ensuring its stability for future generations, while contributing to the achievement of the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Global Goals.