Article 8
The fight against fraud 1. For the purpose of fulfilling the objectives set out in points 1 and 2 of Article 4 and points 2 and 5 of Article 5, the Commission and the Member States shall make every effort to use as rationally and efficiently as possible the means by which they act to combat fraud and illicit trafficking. This action is to be interpreted as covering any Community rules or provisions applicable to any trade in goods between the Community and third countries, including the presence or transit of goods in connection with such trade. 2. To this end, the Commission and the Member States shall draw up, carry out and further develop a policy of combating customs fraud at Community level in order to take account of the progress of European integration, the Community's international commitments and developments in the customs situation in this regard, by using their resources in the best possible and complementary manner. This policy shall aim in particular at: 1) taking maximum advantage of existing legislative provisions and, where necessary, amending them; 2) improving the collection, analysis, distribution and exploitation of information at Community level, making the fullest use of information technology, and increasing the use of computer systems by the customs services as rapidly as possible; this includes: - the need for the Commission and the Member States to take the action required, within the framework of the TIR Convention, with a view to the computerized control of the use of TIR carnets; - the computerization of the Community Transit System by 1998; 3) indentifying obstacles which impede efficient action and cooperation in the fight against fraud, in order to eliminate them as far as possible, in particular with regard to the role and powers of customs administration officials; 4) ensuring that effective penalties are applied; 5) pursuing and developing coordinated actions, in particular Community investigative or control missions in third countries; 6) developing cooperation with third countries, particularly the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and with competent international organizations, as well as with relevant business circles; 7) making greater use, for the benefit of the whole Community, of the capacities of Commission and Member State staff in third countries; 8) ensuring that irregularities are followed up.