On March 20, 2025, about 70 experts representing the 27 EU Member Statesโ customs administrations team met in Bonn for the kick-off meeting of this operational cooperation framework. One year later, itโs time to review the progress achieved so far and to set up future priorities, including the way to ensure continuity of EUCAB beyond the planned establishment of EU Customs Authority. The second EUCAB Steering Committee, which met online on March 5, 2026, helped shape the outlines of future operational customs cooperation.
A mid-term assessment of progress achieved: โretrospective is prospectโs halfโ
During an intense year for EUCAB experts, significant progress has been achieved in different areas of responsibility, bringing EU customs administrations closer to their goal to โact as oneโ.
Each unit contributed its part in achieving the shared goal of building a structured framework for operational cooperation between EU customs administrations, taking into consideration different border environments and transport-related challenges (air, maritime, land and mobile).
Solid foundations for further work were set up and instruments to enhance structured cooperation have been tested. Thus, EUCAB developed own diagnostic tools, enabling the units to carry voluntary assessments of customs activities at land, maritime and air borders. Complementary working visits help assess potential weaknesses, but also highlight good practices to be shared. Moreover, different surveys record challenges, working methods, and practical needs: a common ground to undertake, where relevant, a coordinated approach to threats and adopt the most relevant means to efficiently fight them.
By gathering and benchmarking customs expertise, each EUCAB unit contributes to building comprehensive knowledge of challenges, while paying due attention to different kinds of borders and border situations.
Strategic guidance for improved customs cooperation: looking ahead
Taking into consideration the future establishment of a EU Customs Authority (EUCA), the second EUCAB Steering Committee, bringing together Directors General from Member States and the European Commission, provided strategic direction for ensuring continuity of EUCABโs work on main cross-cutting priorities:
- risk management, emphasizing the importance of improved communication between customs administrations, data quality and analytical capacity;
- resilience and integrity, developing common reference standards and tools to enhance customs administrationsโ ability to respond and to adapt in a complex and uncertain world;
- innovation, supporting transparency and synergies on innovative projects, and biggest-impact fields;
- training, identifying gaps in needs not yet covered by Member States, developing common curricula, organizing training courses, and promoting expertise through Centres of Excellence;
- procurement of customs control equipment, providing an inventory of control equipment and of its use in operational contexts, and defining EU standards based on a comprehensive review of good practices.
The 15 EUCAB networks play a central role in achieving progress on these topics of overarching importance. They act as a platform for national experts to brainstorm, exchange knowledge and experience, and โ above all โ test the relevance of EUCABโs work to Member Statesโ operational expectations. Networks act as an essential link in the process of translation from commonly agreed standards and recommendations into their operational implementation by customs administrations.
A solid foundation for the next phase of cooperation: reinforcing Customs Unionโs capacity โto act as oneโ when implementing EU regulations and carrying out customs activities
The results already achieved by the six EUCAB working Units, the Grant Coordinator, and the 15 EUCAB networks are proof of their key role in strengthening customs cooperation and readiness to meet future challenges across the Customs Union.
EUCAB acts as a key platform for cooperation, not only between customs administrations, but also with partners and third parties. Participants welcomed its contribution to raise the profile of EU customs administrations, giving visibility to their role in international trader and in securing EU external borders.
Step by step, EUCAB is moving closer to the goal of strengthening cooperation between EU customs administrations towards a future-ready Customs Union: much has been already achieved, and even more to be done lies ahead.
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