Irish MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D) has questioned the European Commission over the application of a new EUR 3 flat-rate customs duty to printed books, arguing the measure undermines the EU's cultural and educational commitments. The duty, which took effect on 1 July 2026 under Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382, targets low-value e-commerce consignments, but Ó Ríordáin notes it applies uniformly to all goods, including books that normally carry a 0% most-favoured-nation tariff. Constituents in Ireland report being charged the EUR 3 duty plus a EUR 6.95 handling fee even for correctly identified book shipments.
The parliamentary question, submitted on 8 July 2026, asks whether the Commission was aware that the duty would apply to books, whether it considers this compatible with EU cultural and educational objectives, and whether it will introduce a carve-out for printed books (CN 4901) before the measure expires on 1 July 2028. The question contains concrete asks: a specific tariff code exemption and a timeline for action. It reflects a policy orientation favouring cultural protection over uniform customs enforcement, pitting the EU's cultural objectives against its trade facilitation goals. The Commission is expected to reply within six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it prioritises regulatory simplicity or sector-specific exemptions.