Dutch government looking into establishing European customs agency in the Netherlands 

The Cabinet is considering an attempt to establish a special European customs agency in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Finance is checking whether there is interest among regions to house the agency. The organization is meant to help EU member states assess the risks of shipped items to combat drug trafficking and tax fraud, among other things. A lot of shared information would also be stored.

The agency would be established in 2026 and start activities in 2028. State Secretary Nora Achahbar believes the Netherlands is a logical choice for the agency. "Our main ports, such as the port of Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport, make us a truly international trading country."

If there is interest, the Cabinet will draw up a bid together with a selected municipality, after which it will decide whether it will indeed make a bid for the agency.

The foundation of this European customs agency follows a revision of the rules within the customs union, which regulates the free movement of goods. The new rules should provide a solution to the accumulation of work for customs because more and more items are transported internationally.

Dutch customs had to process 1 billion declarations last year, four times as many as five years ago, the Ministry of Finance emphasized.

European agencies are often popular among EU member states because they usually bring expertise and job opportunities to the country where the organization is based.

The Netherlands previously conducted a successful lobby for the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The agency moved from London to Amsterdam a few years ago due to Britain’s departure from the European Union.