Common Transit System
Common Transit Procedure is an international transit regime that was established in 1987 between EU and EFTA member states within the framework of the “Convention on a Common Transit Procedure” (Common Transit Convention), which allows the goods to be transported with the suspension of applicable duties and taxes. Since 2005, the transports under the Common Transit Procedure is declared and monitored by the exchange of electronic messages with the use of a system called “New Computerised Transit System (NCTS)”.
Türkiye, having acceded to the Common Transit Convention in 1 December 2012, started using NCTS and became integrated with the transit infrastructure of the EU. Today, the Common Transit Procedure is being implemented by 35 states, which are Türkiye, EU member states, EFTA member states, North Macedonia, Serbia and the United Kingdom.
Since the transport procedures under the Common Transit Procedure are carried out by utilizing its digital infrastructure, the time required for the completion of these procedures is reduced, which results in a significant competition advantage for the transport sector. Thus, for inland transports between Turkey and other Contracting Parties of the Convention, a T1 procedure can cover the entire transport under a single declaration and a guarantee.
The Common Transit Procedure also makes it possible to:
- Facilitate the border crossing procedures,
- Reduce the workload of border crossing points,
- Reduce the overall time for transports and increase the competitiveness of our logistics sector,
- Reduce the costs of international trade,
- Provide additional benefits to the economic operators by allowing the use of comprehensive guarantees, guarantee waivers and other trade facilitation tools.
During Türkiye’s Chairmanship, six decisions has been adopted by the Joint Committees, which are:
- Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods as Regards Invitation to the Republic of North Macedonia Accede to the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods,
- Decision No 2/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods as Regards Invitation to the Republic of Serbia to Accede to the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods,
- Decision No 1/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit, inviting the Republic of North Macedonia to Accede to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure,
- Decision No 2/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit Amending the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure,
- Decision No 3/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit, as regards invitation to the Republic of Serbia to Accede to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure,
- Decision No 4/2015 of the EU-EFTA Joint Committee on Common Transit, Amending the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure.