Lisbon, Sept. 26, 2025 (Lisboa) - The Portuguese government will submit a European application to host the new European Union (EU) Customs Authority in Porto, the Ministry of Finance announced on Friday.
In a statement to the press, the ministry said that the government "will submit an application to the selection process for the headquarters of the new European Union Customs Authority (EUCA)", as it considers that "Portugal fulfils the necessary conditions to ensure the facilities of this new entity".
The EU Customs Authority is a new agency proposed by the European Commission in 2023, whose task will be to coordinate the management of customs risks among the different customs administrations of EU member states.
For the Portuguese government, the country's geographical location is one of the advantages of the candidature. "The country is the natural gateway for transatlantic and intercontinental trade in Europe, with an extensive maritime border and a long tradition in customs matters," the ministry said in its statement.
At the same time, it says, the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (AT) "has a strong record of innovation, particularly in the digitalisation of customs procedures" and the country is "well positioned and able to train and attract highly specialised technical staff" through universities and research centres.
Regarding the choice of Porto as a candidate city to locate the agency, the Ministry of Finance states that, taking into account the selection criteria, the city is the "most suitable, ensuring good accessibility and infrastructure, conditions of access to the labour market and education, safety and quality of life".
In the press release, the executive does not specify where in the city the new agency plans to locate, should Portugal win the bid.
The EU Customs Authority is expected to be established by 2026, with the European Commission responsible for its operationalization.
According to the Ministry of Finance, "the headquarters that will be chosen should be ready to host the EUCA in 2026, with around 250 employees expected to be working there in 2034".
PCT/ADB // ADB.
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