Commission welcomes historic agreement to reform EU Customs Union

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

The Commission welcomes today’s agreement between the European Parliament and the Council, delivering a landmark reform of the EU Customs Union. The most ambitious reform of EU customs rules since 1968 introduces new measures for e-commerce and launches a modern, data-driven customs architecture that simplifies procedures and enhances efficiency. With these vital upgrades in place, European customs will be equipped to adapt to the fast-changing landscape of international trade.  

Customs authorities today face a multitude of challenges, including a surge in low-value e-commerce imports, increased risk of unsafe products and fraud, shifting geopolitical trade dynamics, and the threats of organised crime and smuggling. Customs play a vital role in maintaining the safety of the Single Market and its citizens. 

To respond to these challenges, the Commission put forward a comprehensive customs reform package in May 2023, to update and integrate customs operations across the EU. This reform is built on three pillars: 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 (‘EUCA’), it will 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.  

A data-driven customs approach 

At the heart of the customs reform lies the establishment of a new EU agency, the EU Customs Authority, to be located in Lille, France. It will coordinate and modernise customs operations across all 27 Member States. The EUCA will facilitate information-sharing and provide risk management at EU-level, thereby enhancing the harmonised implementation of EU customs legislation, as well as the detection and prevention of customs fraud across the Union. 

As the engine of the reform, the EU Customs Authority will manage the EU Customs Data Hub, 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. For customs authorities across the EU, this integration of data means access to real-time, first-hand information and an overarching, EU-level overview. 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. 

A turning point for e-commerce 

In 2025, an estimated 5.9 billion low-value items entered the EU in parcels directly shipped to consumers, with over 90% originating from China. The growing volume of trade and complex compliance requirements have made the monitoring of these parcels even more challenging. This large influx of packages is accompanied by an increase in risks. Many products purchased online from outside the EU do not meet EU standards, raising safety and security concerns for consumers.  

The reform introduces several targeted measures to address the rapid growth in e-commerce. 

The Commission and Member States agreed in November 2025, to remove the duty exemption that had been in place so far for parcels valued below €150. As a temporary solution, they decided to introduce a €3 duty on these parcels, starting 1st July 2026. The removal of the threshold aims to level the playing field between e-commerce sales and traditional retail, restoring fairness while maintaining choice for consumers. Once the Data Hub is fully operational, normal customs duties will apply. 

Today’s agreement also introduces a handling fee on goods imported into the EU, to compensate for the increasing costs for customs authorities. The amount of the fee will be determined in a delegated act and be based on the minimum costs customs authorities face when processing goods. The costs arise from the IT and labour resources mobilised to release those goods for free circulation, including checking the data provided, carrying out risk analysis, and performing regular documentary and physical controls when needed. The fee will be introduced no later than 1 November 2026. 

In the future, e-commerce operators will bear more responsibility. Online platforms and sellers will inform customs through the EU Customs Data Hub about their sales immediately after they happen. This will allow customs to react even before the goods arrive at the border. These operators will also be liable to ensure compliance with EU legislation applicable to their products, including fiscal and non-fiscal rules. Specific penalties may apply in case of systematic non-compliance. This is a major improvement from the current customs system, which assigns this responsibility to individual consumers.  

Next Steps 

This Regulation will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Today’s agreement is a significant step towards a new, resilient and adaptable EU Customs Union. The reform now launches a mix of immediate and long-term measures.  

Measures tackling the urgent e-commerce challenges have been expedited to start earlier than originally foreseen, given the need for an urgent solution.  

The EU Customs Authority will be established in close cooperation 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. The Data Hub will open for all other businesses in 2031, leading to immediate benefits, simplifications, and savings for companies. In 2034, the Data Hub will expand to all traders and become the single mandatory EU Customs entry point.   

Background 

The EU Customs Union, founded in 1968, was a milestone for EU integration, providing the foundations for the Single Market, and ensuring the free circulation of goods within the EU.  

In today’s landscape, customs authorities control billions of consignments annually, with e-commerce fuelling an unprecedented surge in low-value imports. The EU Customs Union needed a major reform to address modern challenges, such as new trade models and growing trade volumes, technological developments, the green transition, the new geopolitical context and security risks. 

On 17 May 2023, the Commission put forward proposals for a comprehensive reform, aiming to tackle these challenges by developing a more cohesive, data-driven, and risk-based customs system. This system is also designed to effectively protect its financial and regulatory interests. 

For more information

Questions and answers

Factsheet

EU Customs Union: facts and figures

EU Customs Reform

Wise Persons Group on Challenges Facing the Customs Union

Commission welcomes selection of Lille as seat for EU Customs Authority