1. PRESENTATION OF CLDP CUSTOMS WORKING GROUP IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE A Workshop for Southeast Europe's Customs Officials Zlatko Veterovski, Head of Training Unit Macedonian Customs

2. ABOUT CLDP CLDP- Commercial Law Development Program – Department of Commerce of US Government; Financial support from USAID; Provides training and consultative services; CLDP currently works with approximately 50 countries and has conducted cooperative programs in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

3. ACTIVITIES TO ELIMINATE NON-TARIFF BARRIERS Regular Customs Workshops (every six months, V in total); Liaison with the World Customs Organization (WCO); Group of five senior customs officials from each country; Presentation of improvements between conferences

4. ACTIVITIES TO ELIMINATE NON-TARIFF BARRIERS Wide use of the WCO Instruments for trade facilitation; Revised Kyoto Convention is an excellent compendium of best practices related to border management; Immense value in improving border management practices;

5. ACTIVITIES TO ELIMINATE NON- TARIFF BARRIERS Presentation of the WCO Instruments (Time release study, Conventions, Recommendations, Strategies) Practical cases (origin, valuation, IPR, risk analysis); Bilateral meeting (consultations) between participant countries

6. IPR INITIATIVES Cooperation with the Rightholder owners; Memorandum of Understanding; Stop function; Actions on application and Ex officio actions; Civil procedures or Investigation

7. COOPERATION ACTIVITIES Ohrid meeting with Directors of Customs Administration from the Stability Pact Group; Ohrid Declaration on Coop;

8. NEXT STEPS Continuation of the Customs VI Program; Continued and improved cooperation with the World Customs Organization; Framework of Standards; Trade facilitation negotiations in WTO; WCO Columbus Programme; New CEFTA Agreement;

9. MOST IMPORTANT To know each other; To share experiences; To communicate on a daily basis; To coordinate other activities; To cooperate

10. THANK YOU ZLATKO.VETEROVSKI@CUSTOMS.GOV.MK