European Union Customs Union | |
|---|---|
 Non-EU states which participate in the customs union, or are in bilateral customs unions with the EU | |
| Type | Customs union |
| Membership | 27 EU member states 5 states/territories with bilateral agreements |
| Establishment | 1968[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,950,000 km2 (1,910,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate |  518,000,000 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $16.1 trillion |
| GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $16.6 trillion |
TheEuropean Union Customs Union (EUCU), formally known as theCommunity Customs Union, is acustoms union which consists of all themember states of the European Union (EU),Monaco, and theBritish Overseas Territory ofAkrotiri and Dhekelia. Some detached territories of EU states do not participate in the customs union, usually as a result of their geographic separation.[a] In addition to the EUCU, the EU is in customs unions withAndorra,San Marino andTurkey (with the exceptions of certain goods),[b] through separatebilateral agreements.[2]
There are notariffs ornon-tariff barriers to trade between the members of the customs union and—unlike afree trade area—members of the customs union impose acommon external tariff on all goods entering the union.[3]
TheEuropean Commission negotiates for and on behalf of the Union as a whole ininternational trade deals, rather than each member state negotiating individually. It also represents the Union in theWorld Trade Organization and any trade disputes mediated through it.
The EU Customs Union sets the tariff rates for imports to the EU from other countries. These rates are detailed and depend on the specific type of product imported, and can also vary by the time of year.[4] The fullWTOMost Favoured Nation tariff rates apply only to those countries that do not have aFree Trade Agreement with the EU, or are not on a WTO recognised exemption scheme such asEverything but Arms (an EU support arrangement forLeast Developed Countries).
Union transit, formerly called "Community transit", is a system generally applicable to the movement of non-Union goods for which customs duties and other charges due on import have not been paid, and of Union goods, which, between their point of departure and point of destination in the EU, have to pass through the territory of a third country.[5]
The 'common' transit procedure is used for the movement of goods between the EU Member States, the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), Turkey (since 1 December 2012), the Republic of North Macedonia (since 1 July 2015) and Serbia (since 1 February 2016). The operation of the common transit procedure with the UK is ensured as the UK has deposited itsinstrument of accession on 30 January 2019 with the Secretariat of the Council of the EU.[5] The procedure is based on the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure. The rules are effectively identical to those of the Union transit.[5]
Edward Kellett-Bowman MEP, asrapporteur for aEuropean Parliament Committee of Inquiry, presented a report to the Parliament in February 1997[6] which identified the removal of border controls and a lack of co-operation by member states as being responsible for a rise inorganised crime andsmuggling.[7] Kellett-Bowman's report led to the European Union setting up a customs investigation body and computerising transit-monitoring systems.[8]
The Modernised Customs Code (MCC) was adopted under Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 laying down theCommunity Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code).[9] The MCC was primarily adopted to enable IT customs and trade solutions to be adopted.[10]
The Union Customs Code (UCC), intended to further modernise customs procedures, entered into force on 1 May 2016. This superseded the MCC.[10] The European Commission has stated that the aims of the UCC are simplicity, service and speed.[11] Implementation took place over a period of time and most aspects of implementation were complete by 31 December 2020, although some formalities managed by electronic systems may not be fully implemented until 2025.[12]
One major goal of the UCC is to progress towards the complete use of electronic systems for interactions between businesses and customs authorities, and between customs authorities, bringing all paper-based customs processes to an end.[13]
Monaco and theBritish Overseas Territory ofAkrotiri and Dhekelia are integral parts of the EU's customs territory.[2][14]
| State / territory | Agreement | Entry into force |
|---|---|---|
 Monaco | Franco-Monegasque Customs Convention[15][16][17] | 1968 |
 Akrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom) | Treaty of Accession 2003[18] Brexit withdrawal agreement[14] | 1 May 2004 |
While all EU member states are part of the customs union, not all of their respective territories participate. Territories of member states which have remained outside of the EU (overseas territories of the European Union) generally do not participate in the customs union.[19]
However, some territories within the EU donot participate in the customs union for tax and/or geographical reasons:
The following territories were excluded until the end of 2019:
Andorra, San Marino and Turkey are each in a customs union with the EU.[2]
| State | Agreement | Entry into force | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra | Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra – Joint Declarations[22] | 1 January 1991 | Excludes agricultural produce |
 San Marino | Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino[23] | 1 April 2002 | |
 Turkey | Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of theCustoms Union[24] | 31 December 1995 | Excludes agricultural produce |
TheUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland left the European Union on 31 January 2020 and transition arrangements ended on 31 December 2020. Special arrangements have been made for those parts of the United Kingdom and its territories that share a land border with an EU member state.
The UK (including Northern Ireland) is no longer a member of the European Union Customs Union. However, there are special arrangements in place for Northern Ireland: its trade withGreat Britain and its trade with the European Union are each now regulated by theBrexit withdrawal agreement (specifically theNorthern Ireland Protocol and theWindsor Framework), theEU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, theEuropean Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020, theUnited Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. These include special provisions for trade in goods between Northern Ireland and the EU which for many purposes are similar to those that apply within the Customs Union, although Northern Ireland remains part of United Kingdom Customs territory.
Gibraltar left the EU concurrently with the United Kingdom. When part of the EU, it was one of theEU territories with opt-outs and had not been part of the Customs Union. An agreement in principle has been reached between the EU, the United Kingdom, and Gibraltar to negotiate a treaty which would include provisions for trade on goods between the EU and Gibraltar.[25] These would be "substantially similar" to those within the Customs Union. As of April 2024[update], the agreement has not yet been concluded.
As already notedabove, the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the island ofCyprus are integral parts of the EU's customs territory (and remained so afterBrexit).
Text was copied from this source, which is available under aCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseArchived 16 October 2017 at theWayback Machine.
