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OPINION (COM(2023)0258 – C90175/2023 – 2023/0156(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013

BUDG-AD-753728

Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: José Manuel Fernandes

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The Committee on Budgets gives its opinion on the Commission's proposal for a regulation establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority (EUCA), which would strengthen customs supervision, create an EU Customs Data Hub and centralise risk analysis. The opinion welcomes the proposal's aims and focuses on the EUCA and on monitoring the financial consequences for the EU and Member States' budgets. It proposes that the EUCA be funded from the EU contribution decided in the annual budgetary procedure rather than mainly through contribution agreements, and that it be resourced in line with its tasks. It asks for regular monitoring of the costs of the reform for the EU and Member States, and for the proceeds of administrative penalties to be able to become an own resource in a future own resources decision. It also proposes amendments on governance, conflicts of interest and parliamentary scrutiny, including removing the Commission's veto over administrative and budgetary decisions.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgets welcomes the proposal's aims and proposes amendments on the EUCA's funding and governance, on monitoring the financial consequences for the EU and Member States' budgets, and on capturing the proceeds of administrative penalties as a future own resource.

Key points

  1. The EU customs union allows goods to move freely in the single market; in 2022, EUR 25 billion in customs duties went to the EU budget, about 10% of total EU revenue that year.
  2. Customs authorities face growing tasks and complexity while low-value e-commerce shipments rise sharply.
  3. The Commission proposal aims to strengthen customs capacity to supervise goods entering and leaving the customs union, using data analysis, a new EU Customs Data Hub and a new EU Customs Authority (EUCA).
  4. The rapporteur welcomes the proposal's aims and focuses on the EUCA and on monitoring the financial consequences for the EU and Member States' budgets.
  5. The first two years' costs of EUR 58 million for the EUCA and the EU Customs Data Hub would be financed under the Customs Programme 2021-2027: EUR 3 million for the EUCA and EUR 55 million for the Hub.
  6. Post-2027 total costs for the EU budget are estimated at EUR 1.855 billion: EUR 280.5 million for the EUCA and EUR 1 574.5 million for the Hub, of which EUR 1 295 million would be outsourced to the EUCA.
  7. The rapporteur opposes funding more than 82% of the EUCA's budget through contribution agreements; it should instead be funded from the EU contribution decided in the annual budgetary procedure, and resourced in line with its tasks.
  8. The Commission Impact Assessment estimated savings for Member States from centralising functions in the EUCA starting around EUR 194 million and rising over 15 years to around EUR 2.3 billion annually; Member States retain 25% of collected customs duties in 2021-2027.
  9. The rapporteur wants in-depth monitoring and regularly updated forecasts of the proposal's costs for the EU and Member States' budgets.
  10. The rapporteur says public revenue from implementing Union policies should by default accrue to the Union budget, and the Regulation should not prevent capturing administrative penalties in a future own resources decision alongside customs duties.
  11. The rapporteur proposes amendments to comply with the Common Approach, including removing the Commission's veto right over administrative and budgetary decisions.
  12. The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, as committee responsible, to take its amendments into account.

Who is affected

  • EU customs authorities: would gain support from the EUCA and the EU Customs Data Hub, and their operating costs would be monitored.
  • Member States: would retain 25% of collected customs duties in 2021-2027 and could see savings from centralised EUCA functions.
  • The EU Customs Authority: would be funded from the EU budget through the annual budgetary procedure and resourced in line with its tasks.
  • Trade operators: would face a reduced administrative burden and streamlined customs processes under the new partnership.
  • The European Parliament: would gain a member on the Management Board and a role in appointing and scrutinising the Executive Director.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 25 billion in customs duties transferred to the EU budget in 2022, about 10% of total EU revenue that year.
  • EUR 58 million for the EUCA and the EU Customs Data Hub in the first two years, financed under the Customs Programme 2021-2027.
  • EUR 3 million for the EUCA and EUR 55 million for the Hub under the Customs Programme 2021-2027.
  • Post-2027 total costs for the EU budget estimated at EUR 1.855 billion.
  • EUR 280.5 million for EUCA tasks and EUR 1 574.5 million for the EU Customs Data Hub, of which EUR 1 295 million would be outsourced to the EUCA.
  • Savings for Member States estimated to start around EUR 194 million and rise over a 15 year window to around EUR 2.3 billion annually.
  • Member States retain 25% of collected customs duties in the period 2021-2027.
  • The Commission's intention to fund more than 82% of the EUCA's budget through contribution agreements is opposed.