The participation of the FCS of Russia in the international Customs co-operation is being developed along three lines; through bilateral interaction, multilateral ties, and in the framework of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

One of the major challenges facing the FCS of Russia was the task to construct the regulatory-legal basis of the Customs Union.

The FCS of Russia actively participated in the negotiations with the representatives of Belarus and Kazakhstan in the working and expert groups set up by the Commission of the Customs Union. Much work was done for the elaboration and inter-state harmonization of the projects of international legal acts, necessary for the Customs Union and the functioning of the Single Customs territory, the FCS of Russia closely co-operated the Customs Services of Services of Belarus and Kazakhstan. At present the Customs services of the three States have turned to practical actions of transferring the agreed types of State control to the external borders the Customs Union.

The strengthening of integration process within the CIS and EurAsEC continued. In 2010 several important meetings were held: two meetings of the Councils of Heads of Customs Services of the CIS in Yalta and Yerevan, two meetings of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of EurAsEC in Krasnodar and Dushanbe, two meetings of the Board of Union State Customs Committee in Lipetsk and Minsk.

The FCS of Russia has intensified the interaction with the Customs Services of Ukraine, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Uzbekistan.

The co-operation with the Customs Services of the far abroad States has been developed systematically and dynamically.

One of the priorities was to strengthen the co-operation with the Customs Services of APEC, primarily with China and other States of Asian region, such as India, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand.

Particular emphasis was placed on the development of the Customs co-operation with the countries of Latin America and the European Union. During the recent years, intensive contacts were carried out with the Customs Services of Germany, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia.

The representatives of FCS of Russia participated in the work of WTO: attended the meetings of Subcommittee “Russia-UE on Customs and cross-border cooperation”, took part in the events of the Forum of the Asia-Pacific Ocean Co-operation, the Shanghai co-operation organization in the framework of the Ad hoc working group on Customs co-operation.

The FCS of Russia worked out and concluded about 50 intergovernmental agreements on co-operation and mutual assistance in Customs matters with the near and abroad countries. The Russian Customs Service within its competence has the function to fulfill the agreements concluded by the Government of the Russian Federation. In addition, in view of the development of intergovernmental agreements over 80 interdepartmental agreements were signed, these latter being of various directions of bilateral co-operation.

The FCS of Russia participates annually in the work of the unique Moscow International Club of Customs Attach’s. Being the only one of its kind it was established in Moscow in December 2002 on the initiative of the Customs representatives from Russia, China and Finland under the auspices of the State Customs Committee of Russia. Members of the Club are the representatives of Russia, the European Union, Armenia, Great Britain, Germany, India, Kyrgyzstan, China, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Finland, Czech republic, Spain, Chile, Sweden, the World Motor Transport Association and the Association of the trade attach’s of the States of Latin America.

The aim of the Club is to establish friendly and business contacts with the representatives of Customs Services of different countries, the employees of embassies, responsible for Customs matters as well as representatives of international organizations and business communities.

The Federal Customs Service of Russia has 17 representative offices abroad. In 2010, the representatives of the FCS were sent to Latvia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Korea, India and Japan.

WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the topic of the article.

b. Read the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

c. Read the text. Get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text pick out the sentences containing the key words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING: Read and translate the text “FCS International Customs Co-operation”.

Ex.4. T EXT QUESTIONS: Look back at the text and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

Ex.5. CHAT: Discuss with your classmates the key ideas of the text.

Ex.6. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations with each word.

Ex.7. VOCABULARY: Circle the words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

Ex.8. GAP FILL: Fill in the gaps in the text.

1. The participation of the FCS of Russia in the international Customs co-operation is being developed along three lines; through ____ ___ , ___ ___, and in the ____ of the World Customs Organization (WCO).  

2. One of the ___ ___ facing the FCS of Russia was the task to construct the ___ - ___ basis of the Customs Union.

3. The FCS of Russia actively ___ in the negotiations with the representatives of Belarus and Kazakhstan in the working and ___ ___ set up by the Commission of the Customs Union.

4. Much work was done for the ___ and ___- ___ _____ of the projects of international ___ ___ , necessary for the Customs Union and the functioning of the ___ ___ ___ , the FCS of Russia closely co-operated the Customs Services of Services of Belarus and Kazakhstan.

5. The strengthening of ___ ___ within the CIS and EurAsEC continued.

6. The FCS of Russia has ___ the ___ with the Customs Services of Ukraine, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Uzbekistan.

7. One of the ___ was to ____ the ___ with the Customs Services of APEC, ___ with China and other States of ___ ___, such as India, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand.

8. The ___ of FCS of Russia participated in the work of WTO: attended the meetings of ___ “Russia-UE on Customs and ___ - ___ cooperation”, took part in the events of the ___ of the Asia-Pacific Ocean Co-operation, the Shanghai co-operation ___ in the ___ of the ___ ___ working group on Customs co-operation.

9. The FCS of Russia ___ ___ and concluded about 50 ___ agreements on co-operation and ___ ___ in Customs matters with the ___ and ___ countries.

10. The FCS of Russia participates ___ in the work of the unique Moscow International Club of ___ ___.

11. The aim of the ___ is to establish ___ and ___ contacts with the ___ of Customs Services of different countries, the ___ of ___, responsible for Customs ___ as well as ___ of international organizations and business ____.

Ex.9. LATIN EXPRESSIONS: Consult the Dictionary and find the meaning of ‘Ad hoc’ expression, compare it with ‘A priori’ expression. Explain the difference.

Ex.10. SPELLING: Write a list of counties actively participating in FCS’s international co-operation activities.

Ex.11. INTERNET SEARCH: Find in the Internet the additional information on the Federal Customs Service International Co-operation. Share your findings with your classmates.

Ex.12. WRITING: Write about the FCS International Customs Co-operation. Correct your partner’s paper.

Ex.11. SPEAKING: Speak on the topic.

Text 2