Three Italian MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group have asked the European Commission whether customs checks at European ports managed or partly owned by Chinese operators are sufficiently rigorous to prevent under-invoicing of imported goods. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 9 April 2026, Paolo Inselvini, Daniele Polato and Francesco Torselli warn that inaccurate declarations of value and quantity of goods entering the EU via major logistics ports could lead to billions of euros in lost customs duties and VAT, harming EU own resources and internal market competition.
The question cites studies by OLAF and the Commission showing that under-invoicing fraud has been a persistent issue, with significant financial impact. The MEPs specifically flag that some European container terminals and port infrastructure are managed or part-owned by non-EU operators, including Chinese state-controlled groups, raising concerns about whether checks and risk analyses are uniform and cannot be circumvented.
Concrete asks The MEPs pose three specific questions to the Commission: whether it has up-to-date estimates of revenue losses from under-invoicing; whether it considers customs checks and risk analyses at Europe's principal ports—including terminals run by non-EU operators—sufficiently uniform and rigorous; and whether it plans to strengthen customs controls and anti-fraud systems to prevent duty and VAT avoidance on containerised imports.
Policy direction The question signals a push for tighter scrutiny of foreign-operated port infrastructure and stronger enforcement of customs rules, reflecting a broader concern among some MEPs about economic security and fair competition. The MEPs do not propose specific numerical targets but call for a review of existing systems.
Expected follow-up The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will indicate whether it shares the MEPs' concerns and whether any legislative or operational measures are being considered to address the alleged vulnerabilities.
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