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Stricter customs on the way as Lille selected for enforcement HQ

[ March 25, 2026   //   ]

Lille in northern France has been chosen as the headquarters of the EU Customs Agency and EU Customs Reform (EUCA).

Philippe Heeren, Brussels based regulatory partner at global law firm Reed Smith, said the next step would be conclusion of the political agreement between the Commission, Council and Parliament on overall EU Customs Reform, which – if all goes well – will be happening in late March.

He added: “The European Customs Agency will assume an increasingly prominent role not only in enforcement but also in the interpretation of customs laws, driving greater uniformity in how rules are applied across all Member States. Businesses can expect more operational disruption if shipments do not meet regulatory requirements, but also more clarity on regulatory expectations for customs clearance.

“Under the current decentralised system, goods denied entry at one customs point can often clear through alternative entry points – because of different enforcement means or priorities, or because of a different take on regulatory obligations. The intention is to close the gaps, creating a more cohesive enforcement network with more automated and EU-wide controls that will track and act on compliance issues across the entire EU external border.”

He says the move will be a fundamental shift towards stricter enforcement rather than trade facilitation. While customs authorities currently operate largely on a national basis with only partially harmonised risk analysis and enforcement practices, the European Customs Agency would be a significant step towards deeper integration and consistent enforcement across the EU.

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