Lille Selected as Headquarters for New EU Customs Authority

The French city of Lille has been chosen to host the headquarters of the European Union's new Customs Authority (ECA), according to reports from Politico Europe. The decision was made on Wednesday through a joint vote by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers after a competitive bidding process involving nine European cities.

Lille reportedly defeated Rome in the final round of voting with 36 votes to 18, according to Aftonbladet. Other competing cities included Bucharest, The Hague, Liège, Málaga, Porto, Warsaw, and Zagreb.

Dutch MEP Dirk Gotink, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on customs reform, praised Lille's selection during a press conference in Brussels. "They (Lille) are very well prepared for this authority. The French customs service has a very long and strong experience with customs matters," Gotink said, according to Aftonbladet.

In a separate statement reported by Euronews, Gotink noted that "France is one of Europe's leading customs nations, [considering] one in three parcels entering the EU passes through French territory" and that "Lille's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the natural hub for this authority."

The new decentralized agency will support and coordinate national customs administrations across the EU bloc. The authority is expected to employ approximately 250 staff members and is part of broader EU customs reforms aimed at addressing increased trade flows, fragmented national systems, and the rapid growth of e-commerce.

According to Euronews, the agency is expected to be established in 2026 and could become operational by 2028, though the timeline remains subject to change.