The Single Portal for Entry or Exit Data, Generation 2 (SPEED2) represents a milestone achievement in European customs data exchange. Working as a subcontractor to Accenture within the CUST-DEV2 Framework Contract, Vivansa played a vital role in implementing this secure communication gateway. The SPEED2 platform, operational since 2012, continues to process millions of customs messages annually between EU member states and third countries, facilitating international trade while ensuring data security and integrity.
Context and Challenges
The European Commission needed to modernise its customs data exchange infrastructure to support expanding trade relationships with non-EU countries. The initial SPEED platform, operational since 2009, was designed primarily for Russia and faced significant limitations in scalability, maintenance, and connectivity options. Its architecture consisted of two separate components handling message filtering/conversion and protocol bridging, creating operational complexity and high maintenance costs.
DG TAXUD (the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union) required a completely redesigned solution that could maintain backward compatibility while providing enhanced features. The solution needed to support multiple communication protocols, ensure robust message validation and transformation, implement stringent security measures, and guarantee high availability (99.98%). Additionally, the platform needed to be future-proof, allowing for seamless integration of new third-country partners and business processes beyond the initial TIR movement exchanges with Russia.
The architecture had to address complex technical requirements including XML firewalling, intrusion detection, message-level security, monitoring capabilities, and integration with existing European Commission infrastructure.
SPEED2: Secure Data Exchange Platform for European Customs (Ref. 28190).
Client: DG TAXUD
Date started: October, 2011
Date completed: December, 2012
Type of services activated:
See our portfolio of services.
Resources allocated:
7 people having essentially the profiles of enterprise architect, Oracle Service Bus expert, and senior developer.
Vivansa Mission
Vivansa contributed significantly to both the specification and implementation phases of the SPEED2 platform. Our primary responsibility was providing a robust connectivity solution between Oracle Service Bus and the EU’s Common Communication Network (CCN), achieved through our lxr.CCN sofware connector product.
Our team worked closely with project stakeholders to design the integration architecture, ensuring seamless message routing between EU National Administrations and third countries. We ensured that the lxr.CCN connector implemented all required functionality, including high availability through clustering, message buffering during unavailability periods, and comprehensive audit logging.
The lxr.CCN component provided critical capabilities for the SPEED2 platform, including:
- Out-of-the-box connectivity between Oracle middleware and CCN/CSI
- Support for both synchronous and asynchronous messaging patterns
- Advanced reliability features including failover and message retention
- Comprehensive testing capabilities including loopback mode and CCN simulation
- Performance optimization to support high message throughput requirements
- Compliance with all EU security standards and policies
Vivansa experts collaborated in technical design sessions, provided implementation guidance, and supported testing phases to ensure proper integration of our connector within the broader SPEED2 architecture based on Oracle technologies (Service Bus, Enterprise Gateway, and SOA Suite).
Outcomes
The SPEED2 platform successfully replaced its predecessor with a modern, unified architecture that provided significant improvements in scalability, maintainability, and operational efficiency. The system continues to serve as the critical infrastructure supporting customs information exchange between EU and various third countries.
Vivansa’s contribution, particularly the lxr.CCN software connector, has become a de facto standard within EU customs systems for CCN/CSI connectivity. The connector’s reliability and performance have been proven through years of continuous operation, handling millions of messages annually while maintaining strict security standards.
The solution delivered measurable benefits including reduced total cost of ownership, enhanced monitoring capabilities, improved configurability, and better overall performance. The platform’s architectural approach has provided DG TAXUD with the flexibility to extend customs information exchange to additional partner countries and business domains beyond the initial scope.
DG TAXUD is the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission. Its primary responsibilities include developing and implementing EU tax and customs policies, ensuring a level playing field in the internal market, and facilitating the free movement of goods across EU borders. DG TAXUD works to modernise and simplify tax and customs systems, combat tax evasion, and support businesses operating within the EU’s single market. It plays a crucial role in shaping the EU’s economic and financial agenda.