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CORDIS

Border Control Agencies for Interlinked and Interoperable Future

Project description

Enhancing EU border detection capabilities

EU customs administrations play a crucial role in security, including combating illegal trade, and employing a risk-based, multi-level detection system at border crossing points. However, current technology often results in high rates of false positives and negatives, necessitating secondary controls. To address this, the EU aims to standardise customs controls and upgrade equipment. The EU-funded BORDERLINK project seeks to significantly contribute to the goals of the Customs Control Equipment Instrument (CCEI) and the planned reform of the Customs Union. The project will enhance customs capabilities and performance at EU borders by improving the detection and identification of threat materials, as well as by enhancing training, communication, and data sharing.

Objective

EU customs administrations implement common rules at the EU Customs Union borders. They protect society while facilitating legitimate trade. Alongside the collection of duties and taxes, customs core activities now include security related roles including fighting illegal trade in drugs, weapons, radioactive and nuclear materials, security sensitive dual-use items, illicit waste and other environmental threats.

To deal with high volumes of goods moving across the Union`s borders, and the need to restrict physical interventions to a minimum, customs operate a risk-based, multi-level detection architecture at Border Crossing Points. This must take into account the nature of the operational environment, the threat materials to be detected, and the types of concealments used by smugglers.

For more than two decades, customs have used X-ray scanning as a first level control. However, current applications of this technology continue to result in a relatively high level of false positives/negatives and inconclusive results, giving rise to secondary controls, including physical inspections. This can be attributed in part to a failure to develop operator skills through accredited training and sharing of images of threat materials and concealments in a structured manner. Moreover, second level technology controls such as Raman spectroscopy are frequently applied with a narrow focus.

The EU Customs Control Equipment Instrument aims to harmonize customs controls at the EU borders and to upgrade customs equipment including X-ray scanners and field analysis devices. BORDERLINK aims to make a significant contribution to CCEI aims as well as the planned reform of the Customs Union.

BORDERLINK will enhance customs` capabilities and performance at EU borders by advancing the detection and identification of threat materials, improving training, communication and data sharing. It will help to strengthen supply chain controls and promote the Green Customs Initiative.

Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL3-2023-BM-01

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Coordinator

CBRA SERVICES
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 582 993,68
Address
KRINKELWEG 1
8211 Zedelgem
Belgium

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. West-Vlaanderen Arr. Brugge
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (14)

Partners (3)

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