Poland presented in Brussels Warsaw’s candidacy to host the EU Customs Authority

On Monday, Poland presented in Brussels the official candidacy of Warsaw as the seat of the European Union Customs Authority (EUCA). A total of nine member states are competing for the EU agency.

“We are starting the battle for the seat of the European customs agency in Warsaw. We have no doubt that Warsaw is the best place for the seat of this agency to be located” – said, just before the presentation of the Polish candidacy at the Brussels headquarters of the Permanent Representation of Poland to the European Union, the minister of finance and economy, Andrzej Domański.

The politician emphasized in particular Poland’s strategic location in the European Union and Warsaw’s logistics.

“We talk a lot about security. Without a doubt we are the leader in security in Europe. Trade, the flow of goods is also security, after all” – said the minister.

In addition to Poland, eight other member states are also seeking to host the EUCA headquarters, among them France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Croatia. Some, like Portugal, have already presented their official candidacies in Brussels in recent days.

Adam Struzik, the marshal of the Mazovian voivodeship, who was present at the event, admitted that although the competition is strong, both Warsaw and the whole of Mazovia have a great deal to offer, including access to education and to the healthcare system, which is important from the point of view of the officials who will work in the EU agency. It is to employ 250 people.

“In addition, there is the argument about the multitude of borders that Poland has. Because we have a sea border, land borders and air borders. Among the candidates there is no other country that has so many borders” – added Struzik.

The Polish authorities also argue that Warsaw is already the seat of one EU agency, namely the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex.

“In our view, the fact that Frontex is located in Warsaw is an important argument for the EU customs authority to also be located in Warsaw. This will allow us to create a border security hub in Warsaw and will enable much better cooperation, closer cooperation between these two offices, which will be responsible for the security of the European Union’s borders” – said Małgorzata Krok, the plenipotentiary of the minister of finance for seeking to establish the seat of EUCA in Warsaw.

According to her, there are many arguments in favor of Warsaw.

“The city itself is a great place to live, to develop, to study, to work. Not to mention access to highly qualified specialists” – she said.

Similar arguments were presented back in November in a letter to the secretary-general of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who argued that the EUCA headquarters should be granted to one of the countries with a strategic location and experience in managing the EU’s external borders, requirements that Poland meets. The prime minister also stressed that the Polish customs administration is modern and effective, and that it is staffed by experienced officers.

EUCA is to support the customs authorities of the member states in simplifying customs procedures for businesses and in ensuring the efficient collection of duties and taxes for the budget of the European Union and national budgets. It is also to help strengthen the protection of the EU market against dangerous or illegal products.

The decision on the future seat of EUCA should be made between February and March 2026. (8.12.2025)