- U.S. Customs Department moved from U.S. Treasury to Homeland Security Department - U.S. Customs agents to be based in E.U. ports
The European Commission is taking legal action against Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium because they have signed individual bilateral agreements giving U.S. Customs agents powers to search all containers leaving E.U. ports for the USA under its "Container Security Initiative" (CSI). The U.K., Spain and Italy have also signed agreements and face similar action in the Court of Justice.
The USA has targeted the top 20 "mega-ports" bringing in containers and has so far completed agreements with 15 countries around the world.
In June 2002 two E.U. governments broke ranks. On 25 June the Netherlands government agreed that the USA-CSI could be introduced at the port of Rotterdam and on 26 June, Belgium agreed that Antwerp should join. Two days later, 28 June, the French government too agreed that the USA could have access to Le Havre. On 31 July, an initial meeting was held in Washington between officials of the European Commission and U.S. Customs officials.
The European Commission is taking legal action against Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium because they have signed individual bilateral agreements giving U.S. Customs agents powers to search all containers leaving E.U. ports for the USA under its "Container Security Initiative" (CSI). The U.K., Spain and Italy have also signed agreements and face similar action in the Court of Justice.
The USA has targeted the top 20 "mega-ports" bringing in containers and has so far completed agreements with 15 countries around the world.
In June 2002 two E.U. governments broke ranks. On 25 June the Netherlands government agreed that the USA-CSI could be introduced at the port of Rotterdam and on 26 June, Belgium agreed that Antwerp should join. Two days later, 28 June, the French government too agreed that the USA could have access to Le Havre. On 31 July, an initial meeting was held in Washington between officials of the European Commission and U.S. Customs officials.