Overview
- Finance ministers agreed in Brussels to abolish the duty-free threshold for goods under €150 and asked the European Commission to deliver a simple interim mechanism for early implementation.
- The Commission’s original 2028 timeline for full digital customs reform remains, but a follow-up decision on the accelerated transition is slated for the 12 December meeting.
- A flat processing fee on small parcels is under consideration, with the Commission having proposed €2 per package and aiming to apply it from the end of 2026.
- The EU cites widespread abuse of the exemption, estimating about 65% of incoming third‑country parcels are undervalued, with parcel volumes reaching roughly 12 million arrivals per day in 2024.
- Trade and consumer groups welcomed the move but pressed for stronger customs staffing and digital tools, while France separately launched actions against Shein, including checks on 200,000 packages at Paris airport.