Moving goods into, out of or across the European Union involves several digital customs systems. Depending on the movement, businesses may need to submit advance safety and security information through ICS2, complete export formalities through AES, manage transit through NCTS or prepare import declarations using national customs systems such as Germany's ATLAS.
Each system serves a different purpose, but customs procedures can intersect during the same shipment. This creates practical requirements for accurate documentation, customs references and coordination between filing environments.
This guide walks through the roles of ICS2, AES, NCTS and ATLAS, how these European customs systems connect, and what businesses need to consider when preparing customs data for import, export and transit.
Key digital customs systems in Europe and their roles
Trans-European systems, national customs platforms and shared regulatory databases operate under a largely harmonised legal framework established by the Union Customs Code (UCC). However, they each serve different purposes and follow distinct technical and procedural requirements.
| System | Primary function | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| ICS2 | Advance cargo information and safety and security risk analysis | EU-wide |
| AES | Export declarations and exit formalities | Trans-European |
| NCTS | Customs transit and movement control | EU and common transit countries |
| ATLAS | Electronic customs processing in Germany | National |
| TARIC | EU tariff and trade measures | EU-wide |
| EORI | Identification of economic operators | EU-wide |
| CDMS | Customs authorisation applications and decisions | EU-customs administration |
Depending on the movement, goods entering the EU may require an ENS through ICS2, a transit declaration through NCTS and an import declaration through a national customs system such as ATLAS. Each procedure has its own filing requirements, responsibilities and deadlines.
The following four systems illustrate different aspects of European customs digitalisation, from advance cargo information and export processing to transit management and national customs declarations.
We’ll take a closer look at them.
ICS2, AES, NCTS, and ATLAS: What each system handles
ICS2: Advance cargo information, safety and security
The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) supports advance safety and security risk analysis for goods entering or transiting through the EU customs territory and other territories covered by the applicable agreement.
It processes ENS information, which must typically be submitted before arrival within the relevant deadlines.
Depending on the transport mode and filing arrangements, carriers, freight forwarders and other supply-chain participants may be responsible for providing different parts of the required information. This includes goods descriptions, commodity codes where required, consignor and consignee details, transport references and routing information.
ICS2 makes early access to accurate cargo data particularly important for businesses. Information may need to be collected from several parties before the shipment reaches the EU.
AES: Export declarations and exit formalities
The Automated Export System (AES) supports electronic export declaration processing and the exchange of information between customs authorities responsible for export and exit formalities.
Export declarations generally require goods classification, exporter and consignee information, customs procedure details, values, transport information and relevant supporting documents. AES operates through trans-European and national components, enabling information exchange between customs offices involved in the export process.
Typically, the quality of the declaration depends on information collected from commercial, logistics and product records. Export-control and sanctions requirements may also require separate checks before the shipment proceeds.
NCTS: Customs transit across participating countries
The New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) supports electronic transit declarations and the movement of goods under Union or common transit procedures. Its geographical coverage extends beyond EU member states to countries participating in the Common Transit Convention.
NCTS manages information relating to the transit procedure, including goods descriptions, quantities, weights, customs offices, transport details and guarantees. Once a transit declaration is accepted, a Movement Reference Number (MRN) identifies the movement.
For customs teams, NCTS provides the electronic framework for managing transit operations across participating customs territories. Accurate shipment and transport information remains essential throughout the procedure.
ATLAS: Germany’s national customs processing platform
ATLAS (Automatisiertes Tarif- und Lokales Zollabwicklungssystem) operates as Germany's national customs processing environment, with applications supporting procedures such as import, export and transit. Its relevant applications participate in European customs processes, while businesses must also meet the technical requirements of the German filing environment.
Businesses generally access ATLAS through suitable customs software and supported electronic interfaces.
And unlike ICS2, AES and NCTS, ATLAS operates at the national level. However, its relevant applications participate in European customs processes, including export and transit. This means, for companies operating in Germany, customs data must meet both the applicable EU requirements and the technical specifications of the relevant national filing environment.
How these European customs systems connect
European customs systems need to exchange information at specific points in the customs process. The connections depend on the procedures involved, the participating countries and the filing arrangements in place.
Two common movements can illustrate how this works.
Import and transit: ICS2, NCTS and national customs systems
Goods entering the EU may move under customs transit before being cleared for free circulation in another member state.
For example, a shipment arriving from outside the EU may continue under transit to Germany. During this movement, ICS2 supports advance safety and security risk analysis, NCTS manages the transit procedure, and Germany's ATLAS environment processes the subsequent import declaration.
Goods transported from a non-EU country into the EUBy sea, air, road or railICS2: Advance Safety and SecurityENS information under applicable filing arrangementsNCTS: Customs TransitGoods move under transit to GermanyATLAS: German Import ClearanceRelease for free circulation, if authorisedIllustrative import and transit workflow. Filing arrangements and procedural requirements vary by transport mode and customs administration.Example: Import into Germany via Customs Transit
Germany's ATLAS is one example of a national customs processing platform. Other European countries use their own customs applications, including Belgium's IDMS for imports, the Netherlands' DMS, France's DELTA applications and Ireland's Automated Import System (AIS).
These systems operate within the wider European customs framework, although their supported procedures, interfaces and technical requirements differ.
Where ICS2 and NCTS connect: NCTS Phase 6
For road and rail transport, NCTS Phase 6 allows transit declarations to include ENS particulars where the competent customs administration has implemented the opt-in arrangement.
Two filing approaches apply:
Opt-in: Complete ENS particulars can be included in the transit declaration and exchanged with ICS2 through NCTS Phase 6, where the participating customs administration supports this arrangement.
Opt-out: The ENS is submitted separately through ICS2, while the transit declaration is processed through NCTS.
Combined filing is available only where the applicable requirements are met. The safety and security and transit obligations remain distinct.
Note: NCTS Phase 6 filing arrangements vary by country. As customs authorities may change their opt-in or opt-out arrangements, businesses should consult the latest DG TAXUD NCTS Phase 6 State of Play and confirm the applicable requirements with the relevant national customs administration
Export followed by transit: How AES and NCTS exchange information
When an export declaration is followed by customs transit, AES and NCTS exchange information to coordinate the related procedures.
For example, goods exported from Germany may subsequently move under transit. The export declaration is processed through the relevant national AES application, and its Movement Reference Number (MRN) is referenced as a previous document in the NCTS transit declaration. The electronic AES–NCTS interface supports validation of the export reference and coordination of the export and transit procedures. The applicable transit procedure and processing results determine how export exit formalities are completed.
Goods declared for exported from GermanyExport followed by customs transitExport declaration through AESExport MRN issuedTransit declaration through NCTSExport MRN referenced and checked through the AES–NCTS interfaceExport and transit formalitiesTransit office of departure performs the office-of-exit function under applicable arrangementsIllustrative export-followed-by-transit workflow. The AES–NCTS interface coordinates related procedures; exit confirmation depends on the applicable transit arrangements.Export exit confirmationTiming depends on the transit procedure and processing results
What does this mean for customs operations?
European customs systems can coordinate certain customs procedures through electronic exchanges. However, the responsibilities of businesses extend beyond the information exchanged between customs authorities.
| Operational area | What customs systems support | What businesses still have to manage |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural coordination | Exchange of messages and references between related customs procedures | Correct procedure selection, filing sequence and responsibilities |
| Filing requirements | Combined submission of transit and complete ENS particulars in qualifying NCTS Phase 6 opt-in arrangements | Separate declarations where required, together with any applicable licences, permits or authorisations |
| Customs references | Exchange and validation of MRNs and relevant procedural information | Correct references and supporting records |
| Trade compliance | System-specific validation, controls and risk analysis | Tariff classification, origin, sanctions and export-control requirements |
| Documents and information | Processing of submitted customs data | Collection, verification and preparation of commercial and logistics information |
| Software integration | Defined electronic interfaces between participating customs systems | Connections between ERP, transport management and customs filing software |
These differences can cause friction for businesses without effective coordination and tracking of the documents, systems and responsibilities involved in each movement. Beyond procedural coordination, businesses also need reliable classification, valuation and origin information. These elements influence customs treatment and, for imports, how customs duties are determined. Businesses operating across multiple countries must also consider how their ERP, logistics and filing applications exchange information. We explore this in detail in choosing customs software and AI automation.
How Digicust AI Suite supports customs workflows across European systems
In everyday operation, commercial invoices, packing lists, transport documents and product records often come from different sources, while customs teams must meet the requirements of multiple procedures.
The Digicust AI Suite supports this work through an AI-powered preparation layer that connects document processing, classification, compliance checks and declaration preparation with existing customs workflows.
AI-powered customs data preparation
Intelligent Document Processing (IDP): Extract and structure information from commercial invoices, packing lists and transport documents (e.g., CMRs, Air Waybills). Digicust reconciles relevant records against each other and flags missing or conflicting details for expert review. For example, quantity discrepancies between an invoice and packing list can be highlighted before the declaration stage.
AI Tariff Classification: Analyse product descriptions, material composition and intended use to propose relevant commodity codes. Digicust supports the classification process with tariff references and reasoning that customs professionals can evaluate before confirming a classification.
AI Master Data: Organise and reuse product, customer and supplier information, including previously approved commodity codes where available. Learn more about how AI Master Data supports reusable customs information.
Trade Compliance Checks: Support sanctions screening and export-control assessments using configured data sources and workflows. Potential matches, restricted goods or licensing considerations can be surfaced for expert review before the relevant customs procedure continues.
Declaration Preparation and Handover: Bring together extracted shipment information, classification results and relevant compliance data into a structured customs case. Customs professionals can review the prepared information before it is transferred to existing filing software through the integrations configured for their implementation.
The human-in-the-loop focus
Customs professionals retain oversight and responsibility for decisions within their roles, reviewing AI-prepared information where expert judgment is required. Digicust supports data preparation and review, while existing customs filing software handles the applicable declaration submissions. Specific workflows, review steps and integrations depend on the implementation. Our article on AI in trade compliance and human oversight explores how this balance works in practice.
European customs systems are increasingly connected, but each procedure still has its own data requirements, responsibilities and technical processes. Understanding how ICS2, AES, NCTS and national customs platforms interact helps businesses prepare accurate information and coordinate customs workflows across borders. Adopting AI-supported customs data preparation is also a strategic consideration for teams as it can help businesses manage increasingly complex cross-border workflows.
Sources
https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs/customs-security/import-control-system-2_en
Legal Notice
All content and statements in this blog article are provided to the best of our knowledge and belief. They are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax or customs advice, a legal recommendation, or binding guidance. For an assessment of your specific circumstances, please consult a qualified legal, tax or customs adviser.
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