On Wednesday, EU legislators approved Lille, a French city, as the location for the upcoming European Customs Authority, surpassing Italy’s bid to host it in Rome.

The European Custom Authority, a new decentralized body created to assist and coordinate national customs bodies throughout the EU, will be based in Lille.

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The decision was reached in Brussels after EU lawmakers from both the European Parliament and the Council conducted three rounds of voting on the issue.

«France is a major customs hub in Europe, considering that one out of every three parcels entering the EU passes through French borders,» stated Dutch MEP Dirk Gotink, the rapporteur for customs reform, during a press briefing.

«Lille’s position at the heart of Europe naturally designates it as the ideal location for this authority,» he added.

Italy, with Rome as its candidate city, finished as the runner-up in the voting process.

Competing cities also included Liège in Belgium, Zagreb in Croatia, The Hague in the Netherlands, Warsaw in Poland, Porto in Portugal, Bucharest in Romania, and Málaga in Spain.

The management of customs and trade has grown more urgent following the extensive tariffs imposed shortly after Donald Trump became President of the United States.

In response to increasing uncertainties in global trade, the EU has strengthened its cooperation with international partners. This week, it formalized a new trade agreement with Australia, and the EU–Mercosur agreement is planned to enter provisional application starting April 1.

The creation of this new agency forms part of a broader reform of the EU customs system, with crucial negotiations scheduled for Thursday.

The reform intends to address growing challenges that include rising trade volumes, fragmented country-specific systems, and the rapid expansion of e-commerce.

The agency is projected to be established by 2026 and could commence operations by 2028, according to a preliminary timeline that remains subject to considerable revision.