Overview
The file concerns an upcoming legislative proposal to establish a new EU Customs Authority. The European Commission is currently in the preparatory phase, with the proposal awaiting publication. The analysis is based on available data regarding institutional handling, stakeholder outreach, and media coverage.
Legislative timeline
The proposal is in a pre-legislative stage. The European Commission has not yet published the initiative, and no formal procedural steps have been initiated in the European Parliament or the Council.
Institutional handling
The lead Directorate-General within the European Commission is DG TAXUD (Taxation and Customs Union), under the responsibility of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. In the Council, the relevant configuration is the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN).
Stakeholder reactions
Stakeholder engagement has been extensive during the preparatory phase, with 271 meetings recorded involving 84 distinct organisations. These included 5 meetings with Members of the European Parliament, 192 with Commissioners, and 74 with European Commission staff. The most active organisations in these exchanges were A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S, BusinessEurope, Bayer, the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT), and Eurocommerce.
Specific stakeholder positions have been expressed on several policy areas potentially linked to the customs context. On the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, Moeve, Julien Rossi (Head of Safran EU Representation office), and SAFRAN’s Jean-François Rideau expressed positions favoring an environmental focus, while Shell’s position supported market-based solutions. Regarding biofuels under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), Transport & Environment (T&E) representatives expressed a critical stance, while FuelsEurope and Moeve advocated for more incentives. On the topic of EU policy on customs fees for non-EU imports, Etsy and FedEx Express expressed support for a no-fee regime, citing concerns about operational impacts.
Media coverage
Media coverage includes 20 news articles from 8 countries, including Belgium, Brussels, Croatia, Italy, Poland, and Portugal. Several reports focus on the potential location of the new EU Customs Authority. For instance, Andrea Mazzella of ADM has championed Italy’s bid to host the authority in Rome, emphasizing long-term coordination of national customs and the strategic value of a unified EU border regime. Other coverage notes that Italy positions Rome as an essential host for European economic security and sovereignty, and highlights that the EU hosts a network of over 30 independent agencies, with the new Customs Authority underscoring this decentralised model.