The European Commission and European Parliament agreed on 25 March 2026 to locate the new EU Customs Authority in Lille, France, marking a crucial step in the EU's customs reform aimed at modernising border controls and tackling rising e-commerce challenges through a digitalised, data-driven system.
The European Commission and the European Parliament reached an agreement on 25 March 2026 to establish the new EU Customs Authority (EUCA) in Lille, France.
The Commission received nine applications from Member States looking to host EUCA. It then prepared a neutral and factual assessment of these applications and sent it to the co-legislators on 20 January 2026, to aid in the selection process. This decision represents one of the last steps required before concluding the negotiations on the EU Customs Reform.
The reform will strengthen EU customs authorities, helping them to protect the EU’s external border for goods from challenges arising from rapid increases in e-commerce flows and shifting geopolitical realities. Modernising the EU customs framework will benefit its economy, security, and consumers, by creating a simpler and more efficient digitalised system for EU international trade.
The reform will establish a data-driven vision for the future of EU Customs. The EUCA will be a key enabler for the Customs Union to act as one. It will act as the essential operational pillar for the future EU Customs Data Hub, coordinate risk management and prioritise duty compliance for e-commerce, amongst others. The EUCA will foster cooperation between national customs authorities and enhance their capacity to tackle trade flows posing risks to EU competitiveness and security.
Next steps
The location of the seat will now be included in the regulation establishing the new Union Customs Code as well as the EUCA. This will be formally adopted by co-legislators as part of the text, which is still under negotiation.
The Commission will be responsible for ensuring the procedural steps relating to the establishment and initial operations of the EUCA until the date on which the Authority becomes operational.
Background
The European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals on the EU Customs Reform in May 2023. The aim of the package is to strengthen, modernise and simplify the overall functioning of customs in the EU, and to adapt to growing global challenges in international trade. The proposal included the creation of an EU Customs Authority.
The seat selection of the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism was the first case in which the co-legislators jointly agreed on the location of a seat of a decentralised agency. This is the second time that the co-legislators have jointly agreed on the location of a decentralised agency’s seat.
Following an agreement on the criteria for EUCA seat selection, a joint call for applications for the seat was launched on 16 October 2025. Member States had until 27 November 2025 to apply.
