The Working Party on Customs Union is scheduled to meet on 9 July 2026 at 15:00 in the Justus Lipsius Building, Brussels, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the Council. The meeting will adopt its agenda and hear updates from the Presidency, the Revenue Commissioner and Director General of Customs, and the Cyprus delegation.
The Irish Presidency will present its priorities for the second half of 2026, while Cyprus will report on the Working Party's activities during the first half of the year. Delegations will also prepare the EU position for the 10th Meeting of the EU-China Joint Follow-up Group on Drug Precursors, referencing document ST 11263/26.
A key legislative item on the agenda is the discussion of a Presidency compromise text (ST 10236/1/26 REV 1) on a proposed Regulation to monitor and control drug precursors. The proposal would repeal Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and (EC) No 111/2005, aiming to strengthen the EU's framework for preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals used in illicit drug production. The compromise text reflects negotiations among member states on the scope of controls, reporting obligations, and coordination with international partners.
The meeting will also include any other business as time permits. The Working Party's discussions feed into the Council's preparation of legislative acts and EU positions for international forums, with the drug precursor regulation expected to be forwarded to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) and subsequently to the Council for adoption.
Stakeholders affected include chemical manufacturers and traders subject to monitoring obligations, national customs and law enforcement authorities responsible for enforcement, and the European Commission, which will oversee implementation. The EU-China joint group discussions will also impact international cooperation on precursor control, with implications for trade and security.