In last week of September (24 – 28.9.2012) twenty Kosovo custom officers from the headquarters in Pristine as well as from all mail border crossings participated at highly intensive training on risk analysis. This was third training Kosovo Customs and CEP organized together. Main purpose of the training was to find ways to improve risk analysis procedures to, on one hand, shorten customs procedures to facilitate economic activities and, on the other hand, to protect citizens and ensure that all customs regulations are respected.

Training was organized by CEP and Kosovo Customs Administration, even though, it would not be possible without assistance of Slovene Customs. Their two experts, Jože Kavčič and Mario Pajk, gladly shared their experiences, presented how Slovene risk analysis system functions as well as extensively helped in preparing suggestions for improvements that Kosovo Customs could in near future implement in their risk analysis to increase their effectiveness. Special attention was dedicated to technological improvements that could be done in new system Customs in Kosovo are using for their daily work – ASYCUDA – as first month of its implementation showed many shortcomings.

Participants were actively involved in training and participated in lively discussions, worked in smaller groups and framed also suggestions for improvements. It was indeed very resourceful to have customs officers from various border crossings, as each of them faces a bit different challenges at their everyday work. Their experiences have proven very useful during workshops where they were asked to work on different, very practical cases.

Final outcome of the training was a kind of action plan that all participants together with trainers set to themselves. Its main points were how they plan to implement ideas suggested at the training, how they will cooperate among each other and how they will try to build a common database that will be of great assistance for all.