![[Nicolas Economou nurphoto nurphoto via AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/117022739/a5a8c088a339afb93ed08dbab9a0660abe207f59c94aab138c7e672101fc7707)
Overview
- Lille was jointly chosen by EU lawmakers and governments on Wednesday after three voting rounds that separated it from Rome.
- The European Union Customs Authority will coordinate national checks and run a shared data platform to spot risky shipments.
- EU figures show 4.6 billion small packages entered the bloc in 2024, with 91% from China, overwhelming many customs posts.
- The agency is slated to open in 2028 and grow toward about 250 staff by 2034, with offices planned in Lille’s Euralille business district near the main stations.
- Reforms already on the books take effect in July 2026, adding a €3 duty to low-value imports and scrapping the €150 exemption for direct-to-consumer parcels.