The Council of the European Union and European Parliament have agreed to establish the EU Customs Authority (EUCA) as part of a broader reform of the EU customs to modernise and harmonise customs operations across Member States, replacing the fragmented system of 27 national agencies. It will not come into force until 2027.
EUCA aims to serve as a central operational body to support the co-ordinated governance of the customs union and has been described by the European Commission as the most ambitious reform of EU customs rules since the Customs Union was created nearly 60 years ago.
“This reform is built on three pillars,” it explained, “smarter risk management and customs controls, a modern framework for e-commerce, and a stronger partnership with businesses supported by a new EU Customs Authority.”
It will, the Commission concluded, digitalise and simplify procedures, reduce costs and red tape, promote a more uniform approach at the external border, increase the accountability of online platforms, and better protect the Single Market through stronger, data-driven risk management and enforcement.
EUCA will be established in co-operation with the Member States, with some activities commencing in 2027 and with the launch of the EU Customs Data Hub, the central data platform, for e-commerce in 2028.
A single digital interface for all customs operations in the EU, the data hub will allow businesses to submit data only once, eliminating the need for traders to navigate through multiple national systems. This is expected to save Member States over €2 billion yearly in operational costs.
To facilitate legitimate trade, the reform also strengthens the framework for trusted traders. Businesses with strong compliance records will be rewarded, benefiting from simplified procedures and fewer controls, allowing customs authorities to focus their resources on high-risk consignments.
The necessary legislation will be published in the EU’s Official Journal later this year with the Member States and businesses then given one year to prepare for the reforms coming into force.
