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On 23 January 2025, CLECAT participated as an industry expert at the meeting of the EP Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (D-UK) in Strasbourg, to discuss critical issues impacting trade and logistics between the EU and the UK.

CLECAT highlighted the pressing challenges facing the transport and customs sector and provided insights into the evolving regulatory landscape. The discussion focused on some changes affecting customs procedures and border management in 2025, emphasising their implications for trade and logistics operations.

CLECAT outlined the introduction of new border control measures, including pre-arrival Safety & Security declarations, digital travel authorisation systems, and the stricter enforcement of regulatory compliance at the EU-UK border. The complexities arising from these changes pose challenges for businesses navigating a regulatory framework that includes over 350 pieces of legislation at the EU border. In addition, increasing compliance costs and fragmented rules further exacerbate the difficulties for companies operating in this environment.

CLECAT also addressed the current demands placed on customs authorities, particularly with the growth of e-commerce and product safety requirements, continue to outpace the resources allocated to them, creating an urgent need for investment and reform.

During the assembly, CLECAT proposed several solutions to address these challenges. Simplification of procedures was identified as a key priority, with a call for harmonised rules and streamlined systems to ease the administrative burden on businesses. CLECAT advocated for the inclusion of logistics sector experts in the policymaking process to ensure that new regulations are practical and effective from their inception.

CLECAT also reinforced its commitment to working closely with not only EU but also UK authorities, through initiatives such as regular meetings with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK Mission to the EU and the UK’s Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, to ensure that the European logistics industry is represented and understood on both sides of the English Channel. By contributing expertise and practical recommendations, CLECAT aims to promote efficient and resilient trade flows between the EU and the UK while addressing the challenges of an increasingly complex and demanding regulatory environment.