The 1st Conference of the Heads of National Training Centers for the WCO Europe Region held in Baku, Azerbaijan The 1st Conference of the Heads of National Training Centers for the WCO Europe Region was held from 22 to 24 January 2014 in Baku, Azerbaijan and organized by the Customs administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan in its capacity of Vice-Chair for the WCO Europe Region, in coordination with the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for the Europe Region (ROCB).

76 participants answered to the invitation of the Vice-Chair and representatives from 43 European Member administrations exchanged practices and views on the current and future challenges of Training and Staff Development in Customs. The invitation was also extended to the Heads of the 5 other WCO ROCBs who all contributed to the Conference. Were present delegates from Azerbaijan, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

They participated actively to the discussions on Customs Professionalism and Competencies, Innovations, Regionalization synergies and Partnerships opportunities in Customs Training.

The 1st Conference of the NTCs in Europe Region was chaired by Mr. Erich Kieck, Director Capacity Building, WCO Secretariat, and was concluded by the adoption of the Baku Declaration 2014 which identified practical way forward to maximize the benefit of the established regional network of Customs professionals in charge of Customs Training and Staff Development.