What are Smart Borders 2.0?
European Parliament concept paper presented a new model for managing borders.
Smart Borders 2.0 is a proposal for a border between the European Union and the United Kingdom that aims to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. The proposal is based on international standards and best practices, and is intended to allow for the free movement of people and goods.
The proposal includes:
- Customs cooperation: An agreement between the EU and the UK that allows customs authorities to inspect on behalf of each other
- Mutual recognition: Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) are recognized mutually between the EU and the UK
- Technical agreement: A customs-to-customs agreement for exchanging risk data
- Pre-registration: Operators and commercial travelers can be pre-registered
- Identification system: A border identification system
- Single Window: A one-stop-shop element
- Unique Consignment reference number (UCR): A unique reference number for consignments
- Electronic customs declaration system: A simplified electronic system that reuses export data for imports
- Mobile Control and Inspection Units: Units for mobile control and inspection
- Technical surveillance: CCTV and ANPR for technical surveillance of the border
The proposal is based on an enhanced version of the Sweden/Norway border arrangements. It offers a template for future UK-EU border relationships.