The EU customs union enables the proper functioning of the EU single market, and is essential to EU prosperity, with its dual role of facilitating smooth trade and protecting EU citizens and businesses.
National customs services in all EU countries work as one to manage its day-to-day operations. The European Commission, for its part, formulates the EU customs legislation and monitors its implementation.
To manage the huge volume of international trade in 2024, over 2 000 EU customs offices work round the clock to handle the import, export and transit of goods.
In 2024 this amounted to over 590 million items in import and 530 million in export. Added to this were 4.3 billion of goods sold online and making use of H7 specific reduced declarations, and approximately 250 million items that were in transit.
Customs duties collected in 2024 amounted to almost €27 billion.
Customs Fact and Figures
The EU is one of the largest trading blocs in the world, alongside the United States and China.
Customs handle the huge and ever-increasing number of goods bought online and imported directly to consumers into the EU. It is part of customs function to oversee the additional risks brought by e-commerce to EU citizens and businesses.
Customs authorities are on the front line. They ensure safety and security. They safeguard EU financial interest. They uphold and enforce - together with other authorities - numerous EU rules and regulatory requirements.
Customs policy aims to strike a good balance between carrying out effective customs controls and facilitating legitimate trade, to allow the EU to prosper and develop competitive businesses.
Customs duties are a source of income for the EU budget and the budgets of EU countries.
The EU has signed more than 50 international agreements on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance with 80 countries outside the EU. The purpose is to support controls and enforcement and to simplify and align customs procedures.