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On 17 June, CLECAT held its annual General Assembly and a meeting of its Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) in Gdansk, Poland. The meetings were hosted by PISIL, the Polish International Freight Forwarders Association, in the context of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU and provided a timely occasion for CLECAT members to reflect on recent developments and set priorities for the year ahead.

At the General Assembly, CLECAT members approved the strategic priorities of the association for 2025–2026. These include amongst others advancing the digital and green transition of logistics and promoting a balanced and practical implementation of EU customs and trade policies.

Following the General Assembly, CLECAT’s Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) met to discuss the latest policy and legislative developments in the customs domain. A key focus of the meeting was the EU Customs Reform, where members welcomed the progress made under the Polish Presidency in finalising the Council’s revision of the proposal.  With trilogue negotiations expected to begin under the Danish Presidency, CLECAT members agreed that this marks an important step forward in the legislative process.

CITI members acknowledged that the Council text reflects notable improvements on the original Commission proposal, and that many concerns previously raised by CLECAT, including the preservation of direct representation and the continued availability of simplifications, have been taken into account. However, one critical issue remains unresolved: the contradiction between the proposed liability structure for customs intermediaries and the aim of trade facilitation. Members reiterated that customs representatives must not be held liable for non-fiscal obligations outside their control, particularly in cases of fraud or misdeclaration by importers.

In addition, the Institute discussed CLECAT’s work in the Trade Contact Group, current proposals on the CBAM Regulation, the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation, and updates on Centralised Clearance for Import.

After a productive day of meetings, CLECAT members were hosted on a boat tour to the Port of Gdansk, offering a unique view of the city’s maritime infrastructure and its strategic role in European trade.