Customs departments throughout the EU have pledged to try and maintain a permanent balance between the facilitation of legitimate trade and the safety and security of citizens.
They will also be striving to operate as a single entity by modernising their methods of control.
A declaration on the future role of Customs was made at the end of a meeting of heads of Customs administrations of the EU to mark the 40th anniversary of the Customs Union.
The Maltese Department of Customs was represented by acting director general Iro Galea and compliance director Paul Bonello.