The detailed Twinning Light Project Fiche
1. BASIC INFORMATION
1.1. Désirée number: 2006/18111.05.01
1.2. Twinning number: EE06-IB-TWP-FIN-04
1.3. Project Title: Development of customs enforcement system, based on analysis of precursors, used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances, in order to detect and prevent illegal handling of precursors.
1.4. Beneficiary: Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB)
1.5. Sector: Finance
2. OBJECTIVES
2.1. Overall Objective(s):
Smooth border-crossing of legal precursors guaranteed and possible cases of smuggling of precursors or cases of illegal activities with precursors selected on the basis of risk analysis and in co-operation with private sector and other governmental institutions.
2.2. Project purpose:
Enforcement system of Estonian Tax and Customs Board analysed, a conception of precursors’ enforcement system with an implementation plan set up, and staff of ETCB trained to guarantee smooth border-crossing of legal precursors.
3. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
3.1. Context in the beneficiary country
In 2007 officials of ETCB discovered only one case of precursor smuggling. At the same time it is obvious that for the illegal drugs, manufactured in Estonia, much more precursors are needed. Information of Europol says that Estonia has also become a transit country of precursors for Europe.
Regardless of the fact that ETCB has several rights and possibilities to control the trading of precursors, the identification of illegal trading and smuggling of precursors is carried out in ad hoc method. There is neither reliable system nor development conception of fighting illegal handling of precursors.
Possible discrepancies and gaps in precursor control system in ETCB:
- Knowledge of what kind of possibilities ETCB could have for co-operation with enterprises handling precursors;
- Information and communication mechanisms - for example joint seminars, information phones etc. in co-operation with enterprises and other organisations;
- Permanent monitoring mechanisms of precursor trade in transit procedures and free zones;
- Training system of enforcement personnel - at the moment there are no trainers who could possess the subject entirely. Fully functional precursor enforcement system is guaranteed only by competent trainers and regular training of officials.
3.2. Accession Partnership, NPAA priority and contribution to national Development Plan
According to Council’s decree No 111/2005 from 22 December 2004 establishing the rules of trading with the precursors of narcotic substances between Union and third countries and applications of this decree (Commission’s decree No 1277/2005, 27 July 2005) as well as according to the law of narcotic and psychotropic substances and their precursors, Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) is the supervisory body of handling precursors.
According to the ETCB Strategic Plan for 2005-2008, the ETCB Strategic Plan 2009 - 2012 and its Protection of the Society and Economy Sub-Strategy the task of ETCB is to efficiently and successfully check the handlers of precursors and prevent illegal transport of precursors.
3.3. Description of the Beneficiary institution
Direct beneficiary: Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) – the strategic aims of the ETCB are the development of the tax authority to be a customer-friendly service organisation, the accurate and timely collection of taxes, the protection of economy and society and the facilitation of legal trade. One of the main tasks is to prevent and stop drugs and illegal precursors trade on borders.
Between ETCB and Police Board there has been concluded a co-operation agreement. In a co-operation agreement one of the main tasks is detection and prevention drugs’ and precursors’ crimes.
The co-operation between State Agency of Medicines and ETCB is based on mutual trust and partnership with aim to fight against illegal trade of precursors in Estonia. The main tasks of State Agency of Medicines are co-operation with operators, licensing and registration of operators
3.4. Linked activities
Today ETCB is involved in the Customs 2008 programme in Drug Precursors Working Group, but the output of this group is not the solution of problems. The subjects and tasks of the working group are too general to be used for making any conclusions about the best practices of other countries or to use them in everyday work for the construction of customs enforcement system based on risk analysis.
3.5. Proposed methodology
Consequently from the aim of the project to detect and prevent illegal border-crossings of precursors there will be needed:
- To intensify the know-how of risk analysis in order to select illegal shipments from legal ones;
- To introduce best practices of customs control of EU through the seminars and practical training for officials together with the use of sample materials, helping to identify illegal shipments of precursors;
- Gain experiences of other Member States how to develop the co-operation between private sector or legal handlers of precursors and other competent authorities for information exchange about any suspicious transactions.
4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
4.1. Mandatory results
1. ETCB’s present enforcement system of precursors used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances analysed.
2. Elaborated conception of future precursor enforcement in ETCB and an Action Plan to:
- establish system of risk analysis that enables to separate legal trader and legal transaction from illegal ones;
- establish customs control mechanisms that enable to control and to detect illegal shipments of precursors;
- identify co-operation partners from private sector who could co-operate with ETCB in order to detect dishonest traders and suspicious transaction;
- develop co-operation with other state organisations like State Agency of Medicines and Police Board.
3. Customs officers have sufficient professional knowledge to guarantee smooth border-crossing of legal precursors:
- Customs officers daily working in ports, airports and land borders (60-70 people altogether) trained on precursors and risk analysis, training materials provided;
- guidelines on risk analysis and customs control methods of precursors compiled for everyday use of customs officers who work daily controlling goods in ports, airports and land borders;
- study-visit to MS administration carried out for ETCB officials (6 people) responsible for development of enforcement system of precursors on how to develop the co-operation between private sector or legal handlers of precursors and other competent authorities for information exchange about any suspicious transactions.
4.2. Benchmarks
1. ETCB’s present enforcement system of precursors used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances is analysed and analysis report is approved by the Steering Committee (mandatory result No 1)
2. Conception of future precursor enforcement in ETCB and an Action Plan to:
- establish system of risk analysis that enables to separate legal trader and legal transaction from illegal ones;
- establish customs control mechanisms that enable to control and to detect illegal shipments of precursors;
- identify co-operation partners from private sector who could co-operate with ETCB in order to detect dishonest traders and suspicious transaction;
- develop co-operation with other state organisations like State Agency of Medicines and Police Board;
have been provided, documented and approved by the Steering Committee (mandatory result No 2).
3. Customs officers working daily in ports, airports and land borders (60-70 people altogether) trained on precursors and risk analysis (mandatory resultNo 3).
4. Guidelines on risk analysis and customs control methods of precursors for everyday use of customs officers controlling daily goods in ports, airports and land borders compiled and approved by the Steering Committee (mandatory result No 3).
5. ETCB officials (6 people) responsible for development of enforcement system of precursors have skills and knowledge on how to develop the co-operation between private sector or legal handlers of precursors and other competent authorities for information exchange about any suspicious transactions (mandatory result No 3).
4.3. Activities
1. Gap-analyses of the ETCB’s current enforcement system of precursors used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances.
2. Provide the conception and Action Plan document for:
- the establishment of risk analysis system that enables to separate legal trader and legal transaction from illegal ones;
- the establishment of the customs control mechanisms that enable to control and to detect illegal shipments of precursors;
- identifying co-operation partners from private sector who could co-operate with ETCB in order to detect dishonest traders and suspicious transaction;
- developing co-operation with other state organisations like State Agency of Medicines and Police Board.
3. Producing guidelines on risk analysis and customs control methods of precursors for everyday use for customs officers who work daily controlling goods in ports, airports and land borders.
4. Two 3-day seminars for ETCB officials on precursors and risk analysis. One seminar in Tartu (for southern and eastern regions) and the other seminar in Tallinn (for the Board and northern and western regions).
5. A 5-day study visit for the ETCB officials (6 people – 4 from regions and 2 from centre) responsible for development of enforcement system of precursors.
4.4. Expert input
4.4.1. Project Leader for 25 working days over 4 consecutive months
Tasks:
- Overall steering and co-ordination of the project in close co-operation with BC Project Leader
· Leading the project activities
- Reporting (responsible for drawing up start-up and final reports and for submitting them to the BC Project Leader)
· Performing the Gap-analyses of the ETCB’s current enforcement system of precursors used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances (activity 1)
- Providing the conception and action plan document (activity 2)
· Organizing the study visit (activity 5)
- Elaborating mission reports
4.4.2 Two (estimated) Short Term Experts for 20 working days over 4 consecutive months
Tasks:
· Producing guidelines on risk analysis and customs control methods of precursors for everyday use for customs officers who work daily controlling goods in ports, airports and land borders (activity 3)
· Conducting two 3-day seminars for ETCB officials (60-70 people) on precursors and risk analysis. One seminar in Tartu (for southern and eastern regions) and the other seminar in Tallinn (for northern and western regions) (activity 4)
· Elaborating mission reports
4.5. Contribution of the Beneficiary institution
Beneficiary will ensure necessary human and financial resources for project, as well provide project experts with necessary work places and office equipment (computer, phone, fax, and internet), transport to seminar places and training facilities.
The overall co-financing contribution is 5600 EUR that is foreseen for the study tour’s flight tickets and local transportation.
4.6. Sustainability
After the project all included organizations are capable to deal with the issue of precursors, used in manufacturing narcotic and psychotropic substances, in order to detect and prevent illegal handling. The knowledge and practical experience gained during the project implementation period will be conveyed to all people dealing with the issue. Experience will be transferred during daily working routines, through conducted assessments, through guidelines and training. Training of new people is the responsibility of those officials who are trained and who participate in study-visit. The Action Plan, composed during the project, will be implemented by ETCB.
5. EXPERTS PROFILE
5.1. Profile of experts
5.1.1. Profile of Project Leader:
· high-ranking official
· educated and/or experienced in the field of management and organization
· good leadership skills
· working experience in the field of customs (relating to the project’s topic)
· very good command of English (oral and written)
· good computer skills
5.1.2. Profile of short term experts:
· Good knowledge in the relevant field
· Experience in training
· Good computer skills (including power point)
· Very good command of English (oral and written)
5.2. Working language
English.
English-Estonian simultaneous translation during the training activities.
6. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
6.1. Beneficiaries
6.1.1. Direct Beneficiary: Estonian Tax and Customs Board
6.1.2. Final Beneficiaries: Estonian Tax and Customs Board, Police Board, State Agency of Medicine
6.1.3. The project leader and contact for the project
Mr. Urmas Järg
Head of the Customs Control Department
Estonian Tax and Customs Board
Narva mnt. 9j, Tallinn, Estonia
Phone: + 372 676 1744
e- mail:
6.1.4. Programme Officer (PO) of the project
Mrs. Riina Virkus
Head of Financial Department
Ministry of Finance of Estonia
Suur-Ameerika 1, 15006, Tallinn
Phone + 372 611 3210
e-mail:
6.1.5. Project manager
Mrs. Piret Tinkus
Chief Expert of Customs Control Department
Estonian Tax and Customs Board
Narva mtn. 9j, Tallinn, Estonia
Phone + 372 6763127
6.2. Co-ordination mechanisms between institutions and departments
Ministry of Finance,Central Financing and Contracting Department (CFCD) / The Administrative Office, responsible for tendering, contracting and payments
Ministry of Finance,
Financial Department / Programme Officer’s responsibilities - responsible for implementation and monitoring the Transition Facility Programme in the field of finance.
Tax and Customs Board / Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
Co-ordination activities between different organisations, elaboration of policy. Forwards information on products of concern, sampling (screening) from goods in bonded warehouses, risk analysis, customs control on borders.
Role in current project: beneficiary, BC Project Leader responsibilities, daily project management, active co-operation, participation in trainings.
Police Board / Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior
Role in current project: final beneficiary, active co-operation, participation in trainings.
State Agency of Medicines / Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Affairs
Role in current project: final beneficiary, active co-operation, participation in trainings.
6.3. Administrative Office
Central Financing and Contracting Department (CFCD)
Ministry of Finance of Estonia
Suur-Ameerika 1
Tallinn 15006
Estonia
7. LOCATION AND DURATION
7.1. Foreseen start of project activities: February 2009
7.2. Project duration: 4 months
7.3. Schedule :
February / March / April / MayKick-off meeting / X
Steering Committee / X / X
Final meeting / X
Activity 1 / X
Activity 2 / X
Activity 3 / X
Activity 4 / X
Activity 5 / X
The schedule above is indicative. The actual schedule will be agreed during the inception phase and described in the start-up report.
7.4. Location of assignment
Estonian Tax and Customs Board, Narva mnt. 9j, Tallinn 15175, Estonia
Northern Tax and Customs Centre, Endla 8, Tallinn 15177, Estonia