Customs

Electronic commerce is a vital sector of CEFTA, as recognised by Article 28 of the CEFTA 2006, which calls for closer cooperation in this field among CEFTA Parties, stating that “The Parties, recognizing that the use of electronic means increases trade opportunities in many sectors, agree to promote the development of electronic commerce between them, in particular by cooperating on the  market access and regulatory issues raised by electronic commerce”.

Article 18 of the AP6 regulates Parties’ Cooperation on Electronic Commerce, notably by:

• Establishing a common framework of high standards of data protection (Article 18.2); 
• Ensuring the non-application of Customs duties on digital services (Article 18.3); and  
• Prescribing regulatory dialogue on key issues like electronic signatures, consumer protection, and platform liability (Article 18.4).
  

The E-commerce Roadmap, endorsed by the CEFTA Joint Committee in 2020, outlines priorities such as the harmonisation of core rules, introducing a common market principle, simplifying Customs procedures for parcels, and removing unjustified geo-blocking. This commitment to e-commerce was later ratified by the adoption of the Common Regional Action Plan 2021-2024 and, most notably, the Joint Committee Decision No. 2/2024 on Facilitation of Electronic Commerce.

Decision No. 2/2024 makes key contributions to facilitating electronic commerce through the following elements:

• Prohibition of prior authorisation: Ensures that information society service providers can operate without unnecessary regulatory barriers, promoting easier market entry;
  
• Consumer protection standards: Harmonises consumer protection measures, ensuring a high level of trust and safety for consumers engaging in electronic commerce;
  
• Administrative cooperation: Encourages collaboration among CEFTA Parties to share information and best practices, enhancing regulatory efficiency and responsiveness;
  
• Transparency and fairness: Promotes fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services, fostering a competitive and equitable market environment; and
  
• Alignment with EU standards: Aims to align CEFTA regulations with advanced EU standards, facilitating smoother trade relations and integration with larger markets.