Taxation andCustoms Union

Customs Union 1968-2018:the world’s largest trading bloc turns 50

The Customs Union is a tremendous and unique accomplishment. It allows Europeans to reap the full benefits of the internal market, keeping trade flowing and consumers safe. I am grateful to the many thousands of people who have and continue to contribute to this European achievement over the past 50 years.

Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs

KEY FUNCTIONS OF THE EU CUSTOMS UNION

Protectingcitizens and the

environmentagainst many

different hazardousgoods

Combatingcounterfeiting

and piracy

Supportingthe fight

against fraud,organised crime,

drugs andterrorism

Encouraginglegitimate tradeand enhancing

competitiveness

Ensuringthe correct payment

of duties andtaxes due

on imports intothe EU

Implementingtrade policymeasures

“”

#CustomsUnion #CU50 https://ec.europa.eu/50customs

Every minute in the EU,

4.5 thousandtonnes of goodsare imported andexported worth€6.6 million.

Customs operationshandle

15% of total world trade,2.4 billion tonnes

of goods a year worthnearly €3.5 trillion.

Each year, customsauthorities check almost

1,800 million tonnesof ship cargo and about

20 million tonnesof air cargo.

Each year,

313 million customsdeclarations are handled,which means 10 customsdeclarations every second,

24 hours a day.

In 2016,customs in theEU collected

€25 billionin customs duties.

Member States retain20% to cover costsof collection, while

€20 billion was passed on to the EU.

That’s roughly 14%of the overall EU

budget, a significantpart of the EU’s‘traditional own

resources’.

DID YOU KNOW?

SUCCESS BY NUMBERS

299 tonnesof drugs seized

4.6 billionillegal cigarettes

seized

6,256 firearmsseized

1 million piecesof ammunition

seized

1,520 piecesof explosives

seized

41 millioncounterfeit articles

detained worth nearly€672 million

€537 millionin unpaid duties

detected

10,000 casesof non-declared cash

or incorrectlycompleted cash declarations

recorded every year

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