Liège is Belgium's candidate to host European Customs Authority
Liège has been put forward as Belgium's candidate to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority (EUCA). The bid is backed by the federal government and the Walloon Region.
The EUCA, which was announced in 2023, is intended to serve as a central hub to support national customs agencies. Once implemented, it will streamline customs procedures, improve the safety of online purchases for EU citizens, and provide national authorities with simpler, more uniform tools.
According to GRE Liège, a body in which government and private parties consult on economic strategy for the city and surrounding area, Liège was put forward as Belgium's pick to host the headquarters of the new body.
Logistics hub
The application highlights the city's customs law research centre at the University of Liège, active since 2018, as well as the expertise linked to Liège Airport. The airport’s high volumes of incoming small parcels give researchers and practitioners direct insight into the challenges of international e-commerce flows, GRE Liège argues.
"Liège is a strategic choice for Europe, a major logistics hub with its cargo airport, its river port and its multimodal connectivity, at the heart of trade flows," said Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Wallonia's Economy minister. "This candidacy shows our ambition to strengthen competitiveness, not only in Wallonia, but also in Belgium and in Europe."
"Liège is a strategic choice for Europe"
Next to Liège, eight other cities are in the running to host the agency: Bucharest, The Hague, Malaga, Porto, Lille, Rome, Warsaw and Zagreb. The Commission will select the location based on the headquarter's accessibility, how soon it can become operational, and if the city offers sufficient schooling for children of EUCA employees.
The EU is expected to announce the host city in the coming months, with a target move-in date of 2028. The authority is expected to employ around 250 people.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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