1983

One year later during the month of may 1983 the main item on the agenda was the more precise definition of statutes of Confiad and the targets of concern of professional activities of customs agents.

1984 and early 1985:

Beginning of the intercontinental relationship and more precisely with: Asapra, latin-american association of customs brokers NCBFAA Association of customs agents and freight forwarders of America

During these period Confiad endeavoured both: Communicating at the intercontinental level the rôle,the messages and goals of the Confederation among others in the context of a changing European Union Examining the similarity of specific professionalism in other parts of the world.

This intercontinental relationship was going to confirm the global presence of customs brokers appreciated as professional partners of the customs administrations all over the world.

This global relationship indicating the organisation of professionals on the other side of the Atlantic was underlining that, since 1982, Confiad was on the right track in its viewpoints to get the profession organised at the international european level.

1985:

A turn in Confiad's history indeed for two reasons:

The accession of France

A first appearance of the White Paper program planning towards the first of january 1993 a borderless and paperless Internal Market

This is the beginning of the most important chapter of the Confiad book because the matter of concern was the preparation and the survival of customs agents in a new european customs environment that was precisely programmed and timed. The challenge was twofold and difficult:

Convince the members that it was going to happen

Convince the Commission concerning the negative social and economic impact

Late 1985 it was already obvious that Confiad had the decision makers who were both aware and prepared to face this challenge of a rather unknown future in those days. For the first time indeed the EU Commission proposed a strict program with a strict timing. It was up to the member states to implement it. To create an awareness of the profession concerning this unavoidable planning was a first matter of concern. To compensate the euphoria of an Internal Market put forward by the European Commission was a second one. Confiad was ready, had his committee for european affairs, the preparedness to organise international seminars,and the permanent possibility to meet officials of the european institutions.