2005-05-30
Lars Karlsson at the ASEM Meeting in Brussels
On the 30th and the 31st of May, Lars Karlsson is heading the Swedish delegation at the 8th ASEM Customs Enforcement Working Group meeting in Brussels, Belgium. The Asia-Europe Meeting is a very important cooperation between a number of the Asian countries and the European Union Member States. For Customs there are three different groups participating in the partnership: The DG and Commissioners level, the Procedures Working Group and the Enforcement Working Group. These different groups have meetings frequently.
At the 8th ASEM Enforcement Working Group Meeting 26 countries (16 European and 10 Asian countries) participated. In the meeting issues like Intellectual Property Right (IPR), Security, Methods of Controls, Evaluation of Customs Fraud, Mutual Cooperation and Technical Assistance will be discussed. The main purpose of the meeting is to update the common ASEM Action Plan.
On the second day of the meeting Lars Karlsson will make a presentation under the topic Capacity Building, called "The Way to Responsible Enforcement".
2005-05-27
New WEB TV program: My Ten point Programme for Customs Capacity Building
There is now a new WEB TV programme broadcasted on the campaign web site. In this programme Lars Karlsson introduces his Ten Point Programme with concrete actions for Customs Capacity Building. You can find the programme under the folder ”Presentations”.
Now it is time to transform words into action. If Lars Karlsson is elected for the post as Director of the new WCO Capacity Building Directorate, he will initiate the Ten Point Programme for Customs Capacity Building during his first 100 days in office.
During the following weeks, up till the election in June, Lars Karlsson will present and elaborate all of the ten points of the programme at the campaign web site. Stay on-line with the www.larskarlsson.com campaign web site and you will be able to read all the details regarding the Ten Point Programme for Customs Capacity Building.
If you want to watch the WEB TV programme, please click on the icon "WEB TV" above.
2005-05-24
Lars Karlsson in Malaysia
Lars Karlsson visited the head office of the Royal Customs of Malaysia for a meeting with Director-General Tan Sri Abdul Halil. 
Lars Karlsson and Director-General Tan Sri Abdul Halil
During the meeting, a number of different issues and bilateral cooperation were discussed.
Lars Karlsson signs the official guest book of the Royal Customs of Malaysia, at the head office in Putrajaya
2005-05-23
Meetings in Asia
This week Lars Karlsson will go to Asia for more meetings with Customs Administrations regarding Customs Capacity Building.
2005-05-20
Some words from the 10th WCO East and South Regional Conference in South Africa
Representatives from 14 Customs Administrations of the WCO East and South Region met during two days to discuss various customs matters and the future of customs. The conference was very well organized with good discussions and interesting interventions from many of the participants.
For me, as a candidate for the post as Director of the new WCO Capacity Building directorate, it is extremely important to participate in these types of conferences. I am there to listen and learn.
Sweden has a long tradition regarding capacity building. In 2004 we had capacity building projects in more than 120 countries around the world and this year there will be even more projects than last year. We believe in development partnerships and to establish cooperation for sustainable development. We know that every country is different and has to be treated individually. We have the knowledge and experience from Customs Capacity Building and we know how to make it work.
The 10th WCO East and South Regional Conference was without any doubt a success. The organizers from South Africa and the regional Vice-Chair from Kenya did a fantastic job. Thanks to the active participation of the delegations and the great dialogue at the meeting, the conference was very fruitful for everyone involved.
2005-05-17
Lars Karlsson visits Top Management meeting in Cape Town, South Africa
Today Lars Karlsson leaves for South Africa, for the 10th WCO East and South Regional Conference for Directors-General. The meeting will take place in Sante' Stellenbosch, not very far from Cape Town.
2005-05-16
The EU DG CLUB met in Paphos
On Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th of May the Directors-General of the 25 EU countries plus Bulgaria and Romania met in Paphos on the beautiful island of Cyprus. Lars Karlsson participated as a representative for the Swedish Customs top management in the delegation at the conference. The Customs Administration of the Republic of Cyprus presented a very well planned conference.
2005-05-06
EU DG club meeting on Cyprus
On the 12th and 13th of May, Lars Karlsson will be the Swedish Customs representative on the European Union Directors General Club Meeting on Cyprus. At the meeting several issues, including the creation of a Capacity Building Directorate, will be discussed.
2005-05-04
Meeting with European Commission
Today Lars Karlsson had a meeting in Brussels with the European Commission regarding Customs Capacity Building.
