The European Commission opened today and over the next month and a half the application period for countries interested in hosting the facilities of the European Union Customs Authority, a desire already expressed by Portugal.
In a statement, the community executive announced that starting today and for the next six weeks, the 27 countries of the European political-economic bloc can apply to host the headquarters of the European Union Customs Authority (EUCA).
The establishment of this institution aims to support the national customs authorities of each European Union (EU) country and “ensure the effective imposition of customs charges” for national budgets and those of the European community bloc, “contributing to the protection” of trade and the single market against “illegal or unsafe products”.
After the period for submitting applications, the European Commission will evaluate them and subsequently publish the results, but the final decision will depend on the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, in accordance with a “transparent selection process”.
Portugal is one of the countries interested in hosting EUCA.
According to a statement dated September 29, the Government “will advance with an authority the process of selecting the headquarters of the new authority”.
The social democratic executive “understands that Portugal meets the necessary conditions to ensure the facilities” of this European entity, since the country “is the natural gateway for transatlantic and intercontinental trade”, with an “extensive maritime border” and a “great tradition and customs matters”.
“In addition, the Tax and Customs Authority has a strong history of innovation, particularly in the digitalization of customs procedures, the result of a strong investment in technology and modernization that occurred in public services”, maintained the Government of Luís Montenegro.
If Portugal is chosen to host EUCA in 2026, the Government said that by 2034 “around 250 employees will work in these facilities”.
The EUCA is part of the legislative package of customs changes that was presented in May 2023 by Ursula von der Leyen’s executive and which began to be adopted on June 27 of this year.