MEPs hear applicant countries on EU Agency seat location
As part of the reform of the Union Customs Code, the future home of the forthcoming EU Customs Authority is under discussion. Following the October 2025 agreement on selection criteria, nine Member States submitted bids to host the agency. With the Commission’s assessments now published, IMCO held a Question-and-Answer session for 28 January 2026, allowing Members of the European Parliament to scrutinise candidates and their submitted applications.
The session brought representatives from these nine Member States, before Members of the European Parliament, offering an opportunity for direct exchange. Applicants defended their infrastructure plans and capacity to support a centralised customs authority in an increasingly complex trade environment. As co-legislators weigh the Commission's evaluations against political realities, the outcome will shape not only the location of EUCA, but also the operational future of customs cooperation across the Union.
The applicant European countries are the following;
Bucharest (Romania)
Liège (Belgium)
Lille (France)
Málaga (Spain)
Porto (Portugal)
Rome (Italy)
The Hague (Netherlands)
Warsaw (Poland)
Zagreb (Croatia)