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Taxation and Customs Union

EU Customs Union: facts and figures

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Facts and Figures present the EU Custom Union in numbers. The Customs Union is essential for the proper functioning of the single market. National customs services in all EU countries work together as one to manage the day-to-day operations of the Customs Union.

Each year, hundreds of indicators are collected directly from the Member States, annually or quarterly. This unique set of information is completed by data from other sources available to the Commission and it covers a broad spectrum of areas, including EU trade, customs protection (financial and non-financial risks), customs facilitation and cooperation, and duties. Facts and Figures are based on the analysis of this data on an aggregated level.

Customs Fact and Figures

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EU Customs Union – unique in the world

The EU Customs Union is essential for the proper functioning of the single market. In practice, National customs services in all EU countries work together as one to manage the day-to-day operations of the Customs Union.

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Customs sees what you don't… and protects you

Customs authorities are in the front line in the fight against fraud, terrorism and organised crime, cooperating effectively with administrations and agencies responsible for other relevant policies with border and internal security implications.

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Customs are business friendly

The Union Customs Code aims to maintain a proper balance between customs controls and facilitation of legitimate trade, to enable the EU to prosper and develop competitive businesses.

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Customs cooperate

The EU has signed more than 50 international agreements providing for customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance with 80 countries outside the EU to support controls and enforcement and to simplify and harmonise customs procedures.

'EU customs union' brochure (Part of 'The EU explained' series)