EU CUSTOMS AUTHORITY: NEXT STEPS IN SELECTING THE HOST CITY
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on the procedure to select the host city for the new EU Customs Authority (EUCA). Announced on 25 February 2026, this decision marks a crucial milestone in establishing an authority designed to enhance coordination among national customs systems and address the pressures of modern trade.
Nine member states have put forward their candidate cities: Liège (Belgium), Zagreb (Croatia), Lille (France), Rome (Italy), The Hague (Netherlands), Warsaw (Poland), Porto (Portugal), Bucharest (Romania), and Málaga (Spain). The selection process will see both the Council and Parliament independently choose two preferred candidates. If a city is selected by both institutions, it will be confirmed as the host; otherwise, additional voting rounds will determine the outcome.
The final decision is set to be made on 25 March, during a high-level inter-institutional meeting. This initiative is part of the ongoing reform of the EU customs union, aimed at adapting to the challenges posed by rising trade volumes, the expansion of e-commerce, and shifting geopolitical priorities. The establishment of the EUCA is expected to bring greater coherence and efficiency to customs operations across the Union.