The EU Council's Working Party on Customs Union is scheduled to meet on 17 July 2026 in Brussels, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published on 10 July 2026. The meeting, held in a 2+2 format at the LEX Building, will address several key customs union files, including the EU position on the World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System (HS) modernisation business case, customs rules under the EU-Central America Association Agreement, and a proposed regulation on drug precursor controls.
The agenda opens with adoption of the agenda and information by the Presidency, followed by a presentation of Irish Presidency priorities. The Cyprus delegation will report on the Working Party's activities in the first half of 2026. A central item is the preparation of the EU position on the WCO HS Modernisation business case, revised after feedback from Member States and certain WCO Members. The Commission will debrief delegations on the 12th Meeting of the EU-Central America Association Agreement Sub-committee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin (document WK 9564/26).
one on a proposed Council Decision to modify Decision No 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council (document ST 11580/26 + ADD 1), and another on prohibitions and restrictions. The meeting will also continue discussion on the proposal for a Regulation on monitoring and controlling drug precursors, which would repeal Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and (EC) No 111/2005. Delegations must register via the Delegates Portal; Council documents are available there, and room attendants can provide copies on request.
The meeting advances key customs union work, including EU positions on HS modernisation, EU-Central America customs rules, and drug precursor controls. Stakeholders impacted include EU customs authorities, which will need to align with updated HS classifications and new drug precursor monitoring rules; EU businesses involved in trade with Central America, which may face revised customs procedures; chemical and pharmaceutical companies handling drug precursors, which will be subject to new monitoring and control obligations; and EU Member State governments, which must implement the revised regulations and coordinate positions in the WCO.