2024-09-17 00:30:44
September 17, 2024
02:30
This Thursday, the appeal trial is taking place between customs and the declarant ECDC Logistics, suspected of undervaluation, which had won at first instance. This long legal conflict leaves its mark.
A large part of the future of the Liege Airport ecosystem will be decided this Thursday, before the Liege Court of Appeal. This is the day that the trial between customs and the customs declarant will take place. ECDC Logistics. The latter, a major player at Liège airport, which receives and clears parcels arriving on Belgian soil, had won the first trial brought against it for undervaluation of imported products. Following this, More than a hundred proceedings have been initiated to almost all the declarants of Liege Airport, almost all won by the latter.
“Customs are appealing on a matter of principle, but there is no additional element in their conclusions.”
The trial scheduled for this Thursday will set the tone for the position of the Belgian justice system and should set the case law for a while, while dozens of other similar cases, also pitting customs against Liège declarants, are awaiting determination before the Court of Appeal of the Ardent City. The public prosecutor and customs will speak on Thursday, while the defense’s pleadings will be held two weeks later. The decision is expected in November.
Asked by us, the CEO of ECDC Logistics, Patrick Hollenfeltzleaves confidently: “Customs have lost 12 to 13 times in court against us, and there is nothing new, they are appealing on a question of principle, but there is not an additional element in their conclusions,” he sums up. For his lawyer, Me Christophe Bodson (law firm 109), this “mother file” should “offer a definitive point of view on the fixing of customs duties”.
In these cases, customs accuse the declarants being prosecuted fraudulent undervaluation of products arriving in Belgiumfor several hundred million euros in total, including fines and interest. It is the customs system for calculating the value of goods that is being contested by customs declarants.
This series of around a hundred legal proceedings has significantly changed the situation at Liege Airport. On the one hand, trade is doing well. The volume of freight has been increasing since January: +14% in eight months, management is pleased to say. “We are in a very good cycle,” observes Christian Delcourt, Director of CommunicationsThe airport remains the Belgian leader in freight, and in the “European top 5-top 6”.
Volume of goods cleared through customs down, but customs revenue up
However, the volume of goods cleared through customs – i.e. goods for which VAT is paid in Belgium – is decreasing, according to several sources. The spokesperson for the FPS Finances confirms that “while some figures are still missingthe trend seems to be towards a decrease in this volumedue to the fact that some declarants have gone into transit following checks. On the other hand, it also seems that VAT revenues for the State are increasing, thanks to the fact that we have adjusted the level of requirement”, continues Florence Angelici.
In other words, the increased severity of customs has had an effect. Moreover, its general administrator, Kristian Vanderwaerenannounced last week at the “e-commerce” forum held in Bierset that he intended “be business friendly”while being “a pebble in the shoe of those who want to defraud,” witnesses said.
The “Silk Road” file is progressing
As Le Soir reported this Sunday, Yan Songqin, the boss of the former Liège company Easylog Solutions, now bankrupt, was extradited to Belgium, then charged and released under conditions in the “Silk Road” case. In this particularly sensitive case, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office suspects the company of having defrauded VAT to the tune of 303 million euros.
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Position, arguing that their practices align with legal standards. As the appeal trial approaches, questions arise about the reliability and fairness of the customs valuation system, and whether reform is necessary to ensure equity in the process.
ECDC Logistics Appeal Trial: The Future of Liège Airport Ecosystem Hangs in the Balance
This Thursday, the Liege Court of Appeal will hear the appeal trial between customs and ECDC Logistics, a major player at Liège airport, suspected of undervaluation of imported products. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for the future of the Liège Airport ecosystem, with the decision expected to set a precedent for dozens of similar cases pending before the Court of Appeal.
A Long and Complex Legal Conflict
The dispute between customs and ECDC Logistics dates back to the first instance trial, which the customs declarant won. Since then, over 100 proceedings have been initiated against almost all declarants at Liège airport, with the majority won by the latter. The case revolves around the alleged fraudulent undervaluation of products arriving in Belgium, with customs accusing declarants of evading hundreds of millions of euros in taxes, fines, and interest.
Customs’ Calculating System Under Fire
At the heart of the dispute is the customs system for calculating the value of goods, which is being contested by customs declarants. ECDC Logistics CEO Patrick Hollenfeltz expressed confidence in his company’s
Customs valuation system.
Liege Airport’s Future at Stake: ECDC Logistics Appeals Undervaluation Case
This Thursday, the Liege Court of Appeal will hear the appeal trial between customs and ECDC Logistics, a major player at Liege Airport, over allegations of undervaluation of imported products. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for the future of the Liege Airport ecosystem and the customs valuation system in Belgium.
Customs Appeals on Principle, But Lacks New Evidence
ECDC Logistics has already won the first trial, and over a hundred proceedings have been initiated against almost all declarants at Liege Airport, with the declarants emerging victorious. Customs is now appealing the decision, citing a matter of principle, but according to Patrick Hollenfeltz, CEO of ECDC Logistics, “there is no additional element in their conclusions.”
Volume of Goods Cleared Through Customs Down, But Revenue Up
Despite the decline in the volume of goods cleared through customs, customs revenue has increased. This paradox has raised questions about the reliability and fairness of the customs valuation system and whether reform is necessary to ensure equity in the process.
Position of ECDC Logistics: Practices Align with Legal Standards
As the appeal trial approaches, ECDC Logistics is arguing that its practices align with legal standards. The company is confident that its customs clearance procedures are in line with Belgian and European laws, and it is willing to cooperate with customs to resolve any issues.
Consequences of the Trial
The outcome of this trial will set a precedent for future cases involving customs and declarants at Liege Airport. The decision, expected in November, will have far-reaching implications for the airport’s ecosystem and the Belgian
