Lille Designated as the Seat of the New EU Customs Authority
On 16 April 2026, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee approved the Union Customs Code reform and the seat of the future EU Customs Authority. The vote concerns a provisional agreement between the European Parliament and EU governments. This agreement, reached in March 2026, confirms Lille, France, as the future home of the EU Customs Authority. This decision followed a review of nine candidate cities.
The new authority is part of wider reforms and aims to improve coordination and oversight across EU countries.
In October 2025, selection criteria were agreed, and nine countries submitted bids to host the authority.
The European Commission assessed the proposals, and IMCO members reviewed them in January 2026 during a dedicated meeting. Representatives from each country presented their plans and explained how they would support the authority.
The agreement also sets out how customs cooperation will work in practice across the EU.
- Press Release: Future EU Customs Authority to be headquartered in Lille, France - 25 March 2026
- More on the Union Customs Code reform
- WATCH the Q&A session
- Press Release: Parliament endorses the seat selection procedure for the EU Customs Authority - 24 February 2026
- The European Commission's assessments of the nine applications - 21 January 2026