Priority border crossing for business: myth or reality?
Can digital solutions change the situation at the border and make the cargo transportation process faster and more predictable? This question has become particularly relevant for Ukrainian businesses in recent years, when queues at border crossing points (BCPs) have become not just an inconvenience, but a significant barrier for trade.
To find the answer, experts from the EU4IBM-Resilience project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), explored the potential of using digital tools, in particular the e-Queue system, to prioritise border crossings for goods transported by authorised economic operators (AEOs) and those transported under the NCTS procedure.
Businesses have long emphasised the need to create effective incentives for companies that adhere to high standards of transparency and customs discipline. Such incentives could include simplification and priority in crossing the border, especially in view of successful international practices, such as the FAST system in the United States and the active use of AEO status in EU countries, which ensures fast and smooth clearance of goods.
Ukraine has already taken important steps to harmonise customs procedures with European standards. However, as the study shows, despite changes to the Customs Code of Ukraine, the actual implementation of priority remains limited. Preferences in the e-Queue system are mainly given to perishable goods, while AEO and NCTS goods often remain in the general queue.
The study analyses international experience in the US and the EU, demonstrating how effective coordination, the use of digital technologies and clear infrastructure organisation can significantly speed up customs procedures and border capacity. In particular, the Baltic countries have an effective electronic border crossing reservation system, similar to Ukraine’s ‘e-Queue’, which helps to streamline the movement of vehicles.
The authors of the study paid particular attention to assessing the technical and organisational capabilities of the three largest BCPs on the border between Ukraine and EU member states: Yahodyn (Poland), Uzhgorod (Slovakia) and Porubne (Romania). The findings show that effective implementation of prioritisation requires not only regulatory changes but also significant infrastructure improvements, including the allocation of specialised lanes and workstations for customs clearance, as well as a clear division of responsibilities between state bodies, in particular the Ministry of Development, the State Customs Service and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
The expert online discussion ‘Smart Border’, held in May 2025, became an important platform for discussing these issues. It confirmed that, although the regulatory framework is in place, the implementation of these decisions requires a systematic approach and close coordination with EU countries, as well as further clarification of funding sources, especially after the termination of USAID support.
The full conclusions of the analytical brief can be found here.
For a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges of implementing priority cargo clearance, see the analytical note here.
