News

CLECAT RAISES URGENT CONCERNS OVER MANDATORY CATCH IMPLEMENTATION

With the mandatory implementation of the EU Catch Certification IT system (CATCH) scheduled for 10 January 2026, CLECAT has taken urgent action to alert EU institutions to serious operational risks linked to the system’s current design and readiness.

CYPRUS TAKES OVER EU PRESIDENCY: PRIORITIES FOR CUSTOMS, AND TRANSPORT POLICY

Under the motto “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World”, Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2026. The Presidency places European strategic autonomy at the centre of its agenda, seeking to balance openness to global trade with the EU’s ability to act independently where necessary

ICS2 TRANSITION FOR ROAD TRANSPORT

The deployment of the European Union’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) has entered a critical phase for road transport. For a number of Member States, a temporary derogation had been in place from 1 September 2025 until 31 December 2025, allowing ENS declarations for road and rail traffic to be lodged using means other than ICS2.

SWITZERLAND JOINS REFUELEU AVIATION AS OF 1 JANUARY 2026

Switzerland will officially join ReFuelEU Aviation as of 1 January 2026, marking an important step towards a truly European market for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

EU ETS MARITIME COST EXPOSURE INCREASES AS OF 1 JANUARY 2026

On 1 January 2026, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for maritime transport entered a new phase, further increasing cost exposure for shipping companies and, indirectly, for freight forwarders and shippers.

LOADED CONTAINERS RISE 7% YOY IN NOVEMBER

Global container traffic proved surprisingly resilient in November 2025, posting MoM growth for the first time in eight years, according to the latest data from Container Trades Statistics Limited (CTS).

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ALLIANCE AND NON-ALLIANCE CAPACITIES

Reporting by The Loadstar this week, based on new analysis from Sea-Intelligence, confirms that alliance carriers have rapidly re-asserted their dominance across the main Asia-Europe container trades, significantly narrowing the space for independent and niche operators

EU INVESTS €175 MILLION IN TEN-T RAIL MODERNISATION IN MONTENEGRO

This week, the European Union committed €175 million to the modernisation of the Bar–Golubovci railway line in Montenegro, a key section of Rail Route 4 of the extended TEN-T Core Network.

AIR CARGO DEMAND CONTINUES TO GROW IN NOVEMBER

On 8 January, International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its air cargo market data for November, pointing to continued resilience in the sector towards the end of the year.

CLECAT Meetings and participation in events

CLECAT Board
16 January, Online

CLECAT Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute meeting
20 January, Brussels and online
15 April, Brussels and online
17 June, Brussels and online
16 September, Brussels and online

CLECAT General Assembly
16 June (place tbc)
26 November, Brussels

EU Meetings

European Parliament

European Parliament Transport Committee
12 January, Brussels

European Parliament Environment Committee
19 January, Strasbourg

European Parliament Plenary
19-22 January, Strasbourg

Council of the EU

Transport Council
8 June, Brussels

Environment Council
17 March, Brussels