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The European Commission has signalled a renewed effort to address the customs-related challenges of the fast-growing e-commerce sector. Speaking before the European Parliament last week, Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič floated the idea of introducing an EU-wide e-commerce handling fee. Under the suggested scheme, a €2 levy could be applied to direct-to-consumer deliveries from outside the EU, while consignments routed through transhipment hubs would incur a lower fee of €0.50.

While the proposal reflects increasing political attention to the costs of e-commerce supervision, details on how such a fee would be implemented remain unclear. Any rollout would rely heavily on the operational capacity of national customs authorities and postal services - a point that raises both practical and legal questions.

CLECAT welcomes the Commission’s ongoing focus on tackling the complex issues posed by e-commerce in the customs sphere. We support the principle of introducing a handling fee to allow Member States to recover the significant costs involved in monitoring the growing number of low-value consignments entering the EU. However, we strongly emphasise that any new fee must be proportionate, transparent, and should not penalise legitimate traders or stifle efficient cross-border logistics.

CLECAT has consistently called for urgent, targeted solutions to the specific risks and pressures arising from e-commerce, recognising that the broader EU Customs Reform will take several years to take full effect. In this interim period, it is crucial that customs rules support both fair competition and efficient trade. Importantly, measures aimed at e-commerce should not come at the expense of the broader B2B trading community, which plays a vital role in European and global supply chains.

We also welcome the Commission’s recognition that customs alone cannot combat e-commerce-related non-compliance - especially regarding non-fiscal regulations. The proposal to establish an EU Market Surveillance Agency is a positive development. A specialised agency tasked with oversight of both customs and EU market surveillance could play a central role in tackling rogue traders and ensuring that enforcement is consistent and effective across the Single Market.

To be successful, such efforts must be underpinned by close coordination between the proposed Market Surveillance Agency, customs administrations, and other enforcement bodies. Only through joint action can the EU create a level playing field and shield compliant operators from unfair competition.

For CLECAT, ensuring that legitimate trade can flourish while rogue operators are held accountable remains a priority. We will continue to advocate for pragmatic solutions that combine trade facilitation with robust, fair enforcement.