European Union Customs Union

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. The full WTO Most Favoured Nation tariff rates apply only to those countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, or are not on a WTO recognised exemption scheme such as Everything but Arms (an EU support arrangement for Least Developed Countries). ==Union and common transit==

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. 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. which identified the removal of border controls and a lack of co-operation by member states as being responsible for a rise in organised crime and smuggling. Kellett-Bowman's report led to the European Union setting up a customs investigation body and computerising transit-monitoring systems. ==Modernised Customs Code==

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 the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code). The MCC was primarily adopted to enable IT customs and trade solutions to be adopted. ==Union Customs Code==

The Union Customs Code (UCC), intended to further modernise customs procedures, entered into force on 1 May 2016. This superseded the MCC. 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 31 December 2025. 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. == Customs reform ==

In 2023, the European Commission proposed the most comprehensive customs reform since the Customs Union's establishment in 1968. Under the customs reform, the EU decided in 2025 to eliminate the €150 customs-free threshold and added a €3 customs duty for such small parcels. Furthermore, the EU plans to establish an agency for customs, the European Union Customs Authority. ==Non-EU participants==

Monaco and the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are integral parts of the EU's customs territory. ==EU territories with opt-outs==

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. However, some territories within the EU do not participate in the customs union for tax and/or geographical reasons: • Büsingen am Hochrhein (German exclave within Switzerland, part of the Swiss Customs Area) • Heligoland (small German archipelago in the North Sea with VAT free status) • Livigno (remote Alpine town in Italy with VAT free status) • Ceuta and Melilla (Spanish territories in Africa with VAT free status). Historical opt outs The following territories were excluded until the end of 2019: • Campione d'Italia (an exclave of Italy surrounded by Swiss territory) • the Italian waters of Lake Lugano ==Bilateral customs unions==

Andorra, San Marino and Turkey are each in a customs union with the EU. ==Special arrangements concerning territories of the United Kingdom==

The United 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. Northern Ireland 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 with Great Britain and its trade with the European Union are each now regulated by the Brexit withdrawal agreement (specifically the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework), the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020, the United 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 Gibraltar left the EU concurrently with the United Kingdom. When part of the EU, it was one of the EU 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. These would be "substantially similar" to those within the Customs Union. , the agreement has not yet been concluded. Akrotiri and Dhekelia As already noted above, the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the island of Cyprus are integral parts of the EU's customs territory (and remained so after Brexit). ==See also==