CLECAT PRESENT AT INFORMAL CUSTOMS UNION MEETING IRISH PRESIDENCY
On 9 September 2026, the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted an Informal Meeting of the Customs Union Working Party in Kilkenny, Ireland, bringing together representatives from national customs administrations, the European Commission and trade stakeholders. Under the theme "The New Customs Landscape – Trade's Role in the New Customs Environment," the meeting centred on preparations for implementation of the Customs Reform Package and the new Union Customs Code and explored the challenges and opportunities this transition presents for both administrations and businesses.
The event included a panel discussion moderated by Michelle Carroll, Head of Customs International Branch at Irish Revenue, with representatives from DG TAXUD alongside trade representatives. CLECAT was represented by its President, Dimitri Sérafimoff, who brought the perspective of freight forwarders, logistics providers and customs representatives to the discussion.
The exchange covered a wide range of issues central to the new customs environment, including the design and governance of the EU Customs Data Hub, the practical workability of the Trust and Check trader model, the future role of the EU Customs Authority, and the steps Member States and the Commission should take to prepare businesses, particularly SMEs, for the transition ahead. Common threads throughout the discussion included the need for data governance built on clarity, trust and security, for early and meaningful testing with real operators and complex logistics scenarios, and for sustained dialogue between trade and public administrations as implementation progresses.
CLECAT thanks the Irish Presidency for organising this informal meeting. The format of the discussion, and the genuine willingness shown by both the Commission and the Irish authorities to listen to trade practitioners, reflects the kind of consultation that CLECAT considers essential to a successful customs reform. Practitioners bring valuable, hands-on insights that can meaningfully inform legislative and operational choices. CLECAT hopes that this spirit of open exchange will characterise engagement with trade throughout the implementation of the Customs Reform Package and beyond.