The Council of the European Union has published a proposal for a decision to mutually recognise Singapore's Secure Trade Partnership Plus (STP Plus) programme and the EU's Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme. The proposal, dated 26 June 2026, would grant equivalent benefits to certified operators on both sides, including fewer security controls, priority customs clearance, and business continuity mechanisms. The decision is to be adopted by the EU-Singapore Committee on Customs established under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
Under the proposal, STP Plus and AEO statuses would be deemed compatible and equivalent, with customs authorities—the European Commission and Member States' customs for the EU, and Singapore Customs for Singapore—responsible for implementation. Information exchange on programme members, including name, address, status, validation date, and unique ID, would occur electronically with consent. Strict confidentiality and data protection rules would apply, overseen by the European Data Protection Supervisor and Member States' authorities in the EU, and Singapore Customs and the Government Incident Reporting and Operations Centre in Singapore. The Committee on Customs would review implementation regularly, and either side could suspend cooperation with 30 days' written notice or terminate with diplomatic notification and 30 days' notice.
The proposal builds on the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in 2019 and established the Committee on Customs to facilitate trade and customs cooperation. The mutual recognition of trusted trader programmes is a key step in reducing administrative burdens for businesses while maintaining security standards. The decision would take effect upon adoption by the Committee on Customs, with no further ratification required.
Stakeholder impact Certified operators in both the EU and Singapore stand to benefit from reduced customs controls and priority treatment, lowering trade costs and improving supply chain efficiency. EU customs authorities will need to align procedures with Singapore Customs for information exchange and mutual recognition, requiring administrative adjustments. The European Commission and Member States' data protection authorities will oversee compliance with strict data safeguards, adding oversight responsibilities. Non-certified traders may face a competitive disadvantage as certified peers gain faster clearance and fewer inspections, potentially incentivising wider uptake of AEO programmes.
Institutional follow-up The proposal will be discussed in the Council's working party on customs union before formal adoption. Once adopted, the EU position will be presented to the EU-Singapore Committee on Customs for endorsement. The European Parliament is not directly involved in this decision, as it concerns the implementation of an existing trade agreement.