Moldova and Montenegro joined the Common Transit Convention and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods

On 1 November 2025, Moldova and Montenegro became the latest countries to join the Common Transit Convention and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods.

The two countries are now part of a broader European customs network for smoother, faster, and cheaper cross-border trade between the EU and the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), Türkiye, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Georgia and Ukraine. This integration allows goods to move under a single transit procedure using the electronic NCTS system, which reduces border delays and costs for businesses.

Montenegro becomes the latest West Balkan state to join the Conventions, reinforcing trade integration across the region. Moldova’s accession complements strategic work such as the solidarity lanes project to rehabilitate transport axes connecting Ukraine and Moldova to the EU, and contributing to trade in essential goods from and to Ukraine.

Benefits of this accession

The integration into both Conventions allows:

• businesses to benefit from:
  • simplified procedures: a single electronic transit declaration (NCTS) and one guarantee for goods moving between Moldova, Montenegro, and other member countries (EU, EFTA, UK, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.).
  • fewer border checks,
  • lower costs and less waiting time for goods,
  • improved customs controls through shared, digitized and trusted procedures and
  • faster movement of goods
• to deepen economic integration with the EU for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions.

What business should do

• Guarantees: Holders of comprehensive transit guarantees need to update their authorizations to cover Moldova and Montenegro as new countries where the guarantee is valid.

Once the guarantee authorisation has been updated, the holder of the authorization must contact the guarantor of their transit guarantee and request that the guarantee documents be updated.

• Software: Systems also need to be updated with new country codes (MD for Moldova and ME for Montenegro) and other data elements to process transit operations involving these countries

This development expands European customs cooperation and harmonizes customs procedures across Europe and neighboring countries, representing an important step towards a more integrated, efficient, and secure European customs landscape.

More information

• EU Commision – DG TAXUD: Customs: Moldova and Montenegro to join the Common Transit Convention and the Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in Trade in Goods
• Moldova and Montenegro join key European Trade Conventions