The decision was made after EU lawmakers from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU voted on the matter in three rounds. Italy, with Rome as its candidate, was the runner-up in the voting rounds. Other contenders included Belgium with Liège, Croatia with Zagreb, the Netherlands with The Hague, Poland with Warsaw, Portugal with Porto, Romania with Bucharest, and Spain with Málaga.
The establishment of the new authority is part of the overall reform of the EU customs framework, with key negotiations expected to take place on Thursday. According to a draft schedule, the agency is expected to be set up in 2026 and could become operational in 2028, though this timeline is still subject to significant changes.