Croatia enters race to host new European Customs Authority

Croatia has officially entered the competition to host a new European Customs Authority, a key part of the European Union’s planned reforms to the customs union.

Several EU member states are vying to host the agency, with Croatia joining the race most recently. Finance Minister Marko Primorac and other officials presented the country’s bid Wednesday in Brussels, highlighting Zagreb’s safety, stability, and welcoming environment.

“Zagreb is among the safest capitals in Europe, where customs agency employees and their families would enjoy a high quality of life, enriched by the vibrant atmosphere of the city and the hospitality for which Croatia is known,” said Primorac.

The new authority will oversee a central data hub and help harmonize customs checks across the EU.

“The EU Customs Authority will manage the customs data hub covering the entire bloc. The infrastructure will primarily recognize, analyze, and store data on every parcel across all member states, unlike the current system where each country maintains its own data infrastructure,” explained Mario Demirović, head of Croatia’s Customs Administration.

The agency is expected to employ around 250 staff. As the EU’s youngest member state, Croatia currently does not host a single decentralized EU agency.

Nine countries are competing to host the new EUCA: Belgium (Liège), Croatia (Zagreb), France (Lille), Italy (Rome), the Netherlands (The Hague), Poland (Warsaw), Portugal (Porto), Romania (Bucharest), and Spain (Malaga). A decision is expected in early 2026.