In line with the agreed procedure, the Parliament and the Council first selected a shortlist of two top locations each on Wednesday morning. After that, the two institutions’ negotiating teams met to make a final decision on the new EU authority’s seat.
At the hearing organised at the European Parliament on 28 January, Lille stressed its strategic location and good connections, experience with handling considerable flows of goods, and the availability of a building in the near future. Additionally, it offered to cover the authority’s upkeep costs.
Quote
Parliament’s rapporteur for the file, Dirk Gotink (EPP, NL) said after the vote: “Today marks a milestone for the European Customs Union. In a joint decision, Parliament and Council have selected Lille, France, as the home of the new EU Customs Authority. It is the right choice. France is one of Europe’s leading customs nations; one in three parcels entering the EU passes through French territory. Lille’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the natural hub for this authority. This sends a clear signal: France will be central to the future of our customs union.”
Press point
After the vote, Parliament’s rapporteur for the file, Dirk Gotink (EPP, NL) and ambassador Christina Rafti representing the Presidency of the Council are holding a short doorstep press point that you can watch here (live) and here (recording).
Background
The EU Customs Authority (EUCA) will be established as part of the EU customs code overhaul that the Commission initiated in 2023. The negotiations between MEPs and the Council have now reached the final stages. The final agreement on the reform will also mention the location of the EUCA headquarters as decided today.
The EU Customs Authority will be the second EU agency established since the European Court of Justice ruled that the Parliament and the Council must decide on the location of EU decentralised agencies jointly. The first authority to have its headquarters selected in this joint process was the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) on 22 February 2024.
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