WCO PICARD Conference 2017


12th Annual WCO Picard Conference

Hammamet, Tunisia
26-28 September 2017

The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Tunisian Customs Administration, is pleased to announce that the 12th annual WCO PICARD Conference will take place in Hammamet, Tunisia, from 26 to 28 September 2017.

You are invited to submit your research for consideration. A Scientific Board will select approximately 15-20 submissions for presentation at the Conference.
Submissions could focus on one of the following topics (non-exhaustive list): Data Analysis; Trade Facilitation; Security; and Customs-Tax Cooperation.

Data Analysis was selected as the WCO’s annual theme for 2017, in recognition of the crucial role it plays in the Customs context, underpinning virtually all functions of a Customs administration. Data analysis can improve risk management which supports enhanced detection of irregularities, illicit consignments, the suspicious movement of people and financial flows, and the facilitation of legitimate trade; it can provide a comprehensive analysis of historical activity to predict trader or passenger behaviour; assist in the collection of quantitative research for purposes of building knowledge; and enhance performance measurement to improve officer practices and integrity. Data analysis can provide a robust foundation for the core Customs’ objectives of revenue collection, border security, collection of trade statistics, and trade facilitation.

The
Trade Facilitation topic refers to methods for improving the efficiency of border procedures, including but not limited to, Risk Management, Single Window, Post-Clearance Audit (PCA), and advance rulings. Sub-themes include measuring the impact of trade facilitation measures (on average clearance times, trade costs, trade volumes, trade security, transparency, revenue, etc.); obstacles to implementing trade facilitation measures; and managing e-commerce.

The
Security topic refers to the contribution of Customs to securing territories at the border and against threats accompanying trade and financial flows, in different frameworks and environments: from borderlands where trade is highly facilitated, to conflict and post-conflict zones where Customs and civilian enforcement agencies seek to restore the presence of the State.

The
Customs-Tax Cooperation topic refers to all forms of interaction between Customs and tax agencies, including organizational interactions (e.g. Revenue Authorities) and the exchange of information between the two agencies, particularly relating to data exchange mechanisms - interoperable or integrated IT systems.
The Conference in particular welcomes and encourages attendance and submissions from Customs professionals as well as researchers from various academic disciplines, such as anthropology, criminology, economics, geography, history, international relations and international trade, law and political science. The WCO Research Unit is particularly interested in developing an interdisciplinary approach with different perspectives, approaches, and methodologies regarding contemporary systems of regulation and control at borders, and papers co-authored by Customs officials and academics. The WCO Research Unit adopted this approach at other research conferences with great success.

This year (and in contrast to the 2015 and 2016 PICARD Conferences), applicant submissions can include (1) Presentation Summaries of up to 1,000 words; (2) Papers of up to 9,000 words; or (3) Proposals for Panels.
Papers will not have any inherent advantage over Presentation Summaries.

Submissions should be submitted in accordance with following requirements:
· Arial font size 11.
· Submissions should be in English or French (they can be translated from the original language).

Ample time will be allowed for discussion and simultaneous interpretation will be provided at the Conference in the aforementioned two languages.
Proposals for Panels should consist of two or three speakers presenting research on one cohesive topic. The WCO would like to encourage Customs and academics to engage on comparative and policy relevant research on Customs issues: panel proposals are an ideal format for such discussions to take place.

To respond to this Call for Papers, please submit Presentation Summaries, Papers or Panel Proposals with the following details by email to picard2017 (@) wcoomd.org no later than 16 June 2017:

· Name, title, and biography (maximum 250 words) of researcher or researchers.
· Current position, organization, and country of researcher or researchers.
· Contact email and telephone.
· Proposed title of contribution.
· For papers of more than 1,000 words, an abstract of no more than 300 words is required.

Authors will be notified by 17 July 2017 of selection or non-selection of their paper for presentation at the Conference.

The WCO is particularly grateful for the support from:
· The Tunisian Customs Administration.
· The Korea Customs Service.
· The Scientific Board Members, including Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, Jawher Hassayoun, Juha Hintsa, Alena Ledeneva, Larry Liza, Dennis Ndonga, Cedric Parizot, Gaël Raballand, Jeffrey Snyder, and David Widdowson.
If necessary, the WCO will seek to identify funding for reasonable travel and hotel expenses for a small number of presenters that lack institutional backing and have been selected following this Call for Papers.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email picard2017 (@) wcoomd.org.

Issued February 2017