The European Parliament voted on Thursday to approve a major reform of the EU customs union. Dutch Member of the Parliament (MEP) Dirk Gotink (NSC), who served as the Parliament’s rapporteur on the file, said the new legislation will finally give both EU and national customs authorities the tools they need to protect the internal market, businesses, and consumers.
According to Gotink, customs services are currently overwhelmed by a flood of low‑value parcels that do not meet EU standards. He pointed to more than 16 million parcels per day, amounting to 5.8 billion shipments in 2025, entering Europe through e‑commerce platforms.
EU institutions argue that updated rules are urgently needed to address the explosive growth of parcels. This particularly concerns packages arriving from non‑EU countries, via online marketplaces in China. Customs checks and enforcement procedures will be modernised to cope with these volumes, including improved inspections to prevent products containing banned substances from entering the European market.
Risk Analyses and Enforcement
A new EU customs agency will be created to support member states with risk analyses of imported goods. The agency will be based in Lille. Border controls will be streamlined, and sanctions for repeated violations by importers will be harmonised across the bloc. These penalties may include substantial fines and the detention of goods.
By November, the EU will also introduce a handling fee for every parcel imported from outside the Union. The European Commission will determine the exact amount at a later stage.
The reform package still requires approval from EU member states before returning to the European Parliament for a final plenary vote. If adopted, it will mark the most extensive overhaul of EU customs rules since 1968.
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