Kick-off meeting held regarding the start of EMCS project implementation

On July 20, 2026, the Customs Administration held a kick-off meeting marking the official start of the project "Upgrade of the national excise application to a fully functional EU System for movement and control of excise products (EMCS)" (EC-ENEST/TGD/2025/EA-RP/0098). The meeting was attended by representatives of the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, European Union Delegation in Montenegro, MJU, CFCU, as well as project contractors. During the meeting, the project objectives, activity plan, working methodology, and expected results were presented. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of establishing the EMCS system, which will enable electronic tracking of the movement of excise products under deferred excise payment regime, improve control and data exchange, and contribute to more efficient enforcement of excise legislation in accordance with European Union legal standards. The implementation of this project represents an important step in the digitalization and modernization of the Customs Administration's work, strengthening administrative capacities, and fulfilling obligations from the accession process to the European Union. The Customs Administration's initiation of this project contributes to activities carried out by the Ministry of Finance and the Tax Administration towards the temporary closure of Chapter 16 – Taxes, as the system implementation is one of the requirements within Measure 3 in Chapter 16. The meeting expressed a shared commitment of all partners to successfully implement the project within the planned deadlines, with the expectation that its results will further improve the excise system and strengthen institutional capacities in this area, as well as enhance the Customs Administration's information systems and enable their interoperability with relevant EU systems.